Optical Element for Correcting Color Blindness

ABSTRACT

Described herein are devices, compositions, and methods for improving color discernment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No.61/515,764, filed Aug. 5, 2011, Provisional Application No. 61/544,212,filed Oct. 6, 2011, Provisional Application No. 61/589,136, filed Jan.20, 2012, and Provisional Application No. 61/677,928, filed Jul. 31,2012, all of which are incorporated by reference in their entiretyherein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Some embodiments are related to optical elements for enhancing colordiscrimination by persons having visual insensitivity between colors,e.g., the correction of colorblindness, which can assist a person orother mammal in distinguishing a first visible color wavelength from asecond visible color wavelength.

2. Description of the Related Art

Color blindness is generally recognized as a decreased ability toperceive differences between some of the colors that others candistinguish. Several types of colorblindness exist. A protanomalousindividual is less sensitive to red light than normal individuals andthus, suffers from a darkening effect of the red end of the spectrum. Adeuteranomalous individual possesses a mutated form of the greenpigment, which is shifted towards the red end of the spectrum resultingin a reduction in sensitivity to the green area of the spectrum. Similarto the protanomates, deuteranomates are poor at discriminating smalldifferences in hues in the red, orange, yellow, green region of thespectrum. This red-green colorblindness, which is the most common formof the condition, causes many of these hues to appear shifted towardsthe red end of the color spectrum. Other colorblind individuals aretritanomalous and possess a mutated form of the blue pigment, whichcauses a shift towards the green area of the spectrum.

Several methods have been proposed for the correction of colorblindnessin human beings. The contents of each of the references discussed beloware hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.Generally, options to correct for lack of visual color discriminationinclude using differential coloration, filtration, and spectraltransmission between concurrently used lenses. Other patents discloseassociating color with other visual indicators, e.g., cross hatching, asa manner for correcting visual color deficiencies.

SUMMARY

Devices described herein may be used to improve a person's ability todistinguish colors. These devices may be of benefit to both individualshaving normal color vision and individuals having an impaired ability todistinguish colors. The present embodiments relate to an optical elementuseful for enhancing color discrimination by persons having visualinsensitivity between colors, e.g., correcting colorblindness, thatenhances transmission of one or more desired emissive bandwidthscorresponding to a color that a person perceives as difficult toidentify or distinguish. The bandwidth can be in the red, yellow, green,or blue region of visible wavelength light. In an embodiment, theoptical element can both enhance the transmission of a desired firstemissive bandwidth and decrease the transmission of a second emissivebandwidth. For example, a person having colorblindness may be able toperceive a first color, but confuse a second color with the first color.In an embodiment, the optical element can enhance the contrast orintensity between the two colors, increasing their distinction from oneanother.

An embodiment provides an optical element for improving colordiscernment, such as correcting visual insensitivity between a firstvisible color wavelength and a second visible color wavelength. In anembodiment, the optical element comprises a substantially transparentmatrix material and a luminescent compound dispersed within thesubstantially transparent matrix material. In an embodiment, theluminescent compound has an emissive wavelength that substantiallyoverlaps with the first visible color wavelength. In an embodiment, theluminescent compound is present in an amount selected to provide atransmittance that is greater than 100% at the first visible wavelengthin the optical element.

Some embodiments include a device for improving color discernment, suchas correcting an impaired ability to distinguish colors comprising: anoptical element including a luminescent compound dispersed in a matrixmaterial; wherein the optical element is sufficiently transparent toallow a person to see through the optical element; wherein theluminescent compound absorbs light at an absorption wavelength and emitslight at an emission wavelength, wherein a human cone photopigment issubstantially more sensitive to the emission wavelength than to theabsorption wavelength; and wherein the device is configured so that aperson, such as a person with an impaired ability to distinguish colors,can better distinguish the colors by viewing an image or an objectcomprising the colors through the optical element.

Some embodiments include a device for improving ability to distinguishcolors comprising: an optical element comprising a luminescent compounddispersed in a matrix material; wherein the optical element issufficiently transparent to allow a person to see through the opticalelement; wherein the luminescent compound absorbs light at an absorptionwavelength and emits light at an emission wavelength, wherein a humancone photopigment is substantially more sensitive to the emissionwavelength than to the absorption wavelength; and wherein the device isconfigured so that a person, such as a person with normal color vision,can better distinguish the colors by viewing an image or an objectcomprising the colors through the optical element.

Some embodiments include a device for improving color discernment orcorrecting an impaired ability to distinguish colors, such as ared-green color deficiency, comprising: an optical element including aluminescent compound in a substantially transparent matrix; and whereinthe optical element absorbs light in a wavelength range near peaksensitivity for an M human cone photopigment and emits light of a longerwavelength in a wavelength range near peak sensitivity for an L humancone photopigment.

Some embodiments include a device for improving color discernment orcorrecting an impaired ability to distinguish colors, such as ared-green color deficiency, comprising: an optical element comprising aluminescent compound dispersed in a matrix material; the optical elementis configured to absorb and emit visible light so that when an object oran image is viewed through the optical element, a first color having afirst set of color coordinates is converted to a second color having asecond set of color coordinates to aid in distinguishing colors; and thedistance between the first set of color coordinates and the second setof color coordinates in the direction normal to a color confusion linenearest to the first set of color coordinates is at least about 0.02color coordinate units.

Some embodiments include a device for improving color discernment orcorrecting an impaired ability to distinguish colors comprising: anoptical element comprising a luminescent compound dispersed in a matrixmaterial; wherein the optical element is sufficiently transparent toallow a person to see through the optical element; wherein the opticalelement is configured to absorb light of a shorter wavelength and emitlight of a longer wavelength, so that a color having a first set ofcolor coordinates is converted to a color having a second set of colorcoordinates; wherein the distance between the first set of colorcoordinates and the second set of color coordinates in the directionnormal to a color confusion line nearest to the first set of colorcoordinates is at least about 0.02 color coordinate units; and whereinthe device is configured so that a person with an impaired ability todistinguish colors can better distinguish the colors by viewing an imageor an object comprising the colors through the optical element.

Some embodiments include a device for improving ability to distinguishcolors comprising: an optical element comprising a luminescent compounddispersed in a matrix material; the optical element is configured toabsorb and emit visible light so that when an object or an image isviewed through the optical element, a first color having a first set ofcolor coordinates is converted to a second color having a second set ofcolor coordinates to aid in distinguishing colors; and the distancebetween the first set of color coordinates and the second set of colorcoordinates is at least about 0.02 color coordinate units.

Some embodiments include a method for preparing a device for improvingability to distinguish colors comprising: selecting a luminescentcompound for use in an optical element configured to convert a colorhaving a first set of color coordinates to a color having a second setof color coordinates by absorption and emission of visible light;wherein the luminescent compound is selected so that the distancebetween the first set of color coordinates and the second set of colorcoordinates is at least about 0.02 color coordinate units.

Some embodiments include a device for improving the ability todistinguish colors prepared by such a method.

Some embodiments include a device for correcting a vision deficiencyrelated to color discernment including an optical element comprising acomposition including a polymer, such as a polymer comprising apolyvinyl alcohol or a derivative thereof, and a rhodamine or arhodamine derivative.

Some embodiments include methods for preparing a device for correctingan impaired ability to distinguish colors comprising: selecting aluminescent compound for use in an optical element configured to converta color having a first set of color coordinates to a color having asecond set of color coordinates by absorption and emission of visiblelight; wherein the luminescent compound is selected so that the distancebetween the first set of color coordinates and the second set of colorcoordinates in the direction normal to a color confusion line nearest tothe first set of color coordinates is at least about 0.02 colorcoordinate units.

Some embodiments include a device for improving the ability todistinguish colors prepared by such a method.

Some embodiments include an ocular lens comprising: an optical elementcomprising a luminescent compound in a substantially transparent matrix;wherein the device is configured so that optical element modifies acolor of an object or image viewed through the optical element by a userto thereby allow the user to better distinguish colors.

Some embodiments include an electronic device comprising: an electronicdisplay; an optical element comprising a luminescent compound in asubstantially transparent matrix; and a touch screen component coupledto the optical element and the electronic display; wherein the touchscreen component comprises: a first conductive layer, a secondconductive layer, and a spacer between the first conductive layer andthe second conductive layer, wherein the first conductive layer and thesecond conductive layer are substantially transparent; wherein thedevice is configured so that contact by a user to the touch screen cancause the first conductive layer to contact the second conductive layerto thereby allow current to flow between the first conductive layer andthe second conductive layer; wherein the device is configured so that atleast a portion of the light emitted from the display passes through thetouch screen component and passes through the optical element; whereinthe optical element modifies a color of the light emitted from thedisplay that passes through the optical element.

Some embodiments include a device comprising: an optical elementcomprising a coating, wherein the coating comprises a luminescentcompound in a substantially transparent matrix; wherein the device isconfigured so that the optical element modifies a color of an object orimage viewed through the optical element by a user to thereby allow theuser to better distinguish colors.

Some embodiments include a device for improving color discernmentcomprising: an optical element comprising a luminescent compound in asubstantially transparent matrix; and wherein the optical element has apeak wavelength of visible absorption of about 540 nm to about 550 nm.

Some embodiments include a composition comprising a polymer and arhodamine or a rhodamine derivative, wherein the polymer comprisespolyvinyl alcohol or a derivative thereof comprising C₁₋₆ ester or C₁₋₆acetal pendant groups.

Some embodiments include a method of correcting an impaired ability todistinguish colors comprising positioning a device or an optical elementdescribed herein so that an image or an object may be viewed by anindividual having the impaired ability to distinguish colors through theoptical element.

Some embodiments include a method of improving ability to distinguishcolors comprising positioning a device or an optical element describeherein so that an image or an object may be viewed by an individualhaving normal color vision through the optical element.

Generally, the methods and devices described herein may be used toimprove ability to distinguish colors by an individual having animpaired ability to distinguish colors and/or by an individual withnormal color vision.

These and other embodiments are described in greater detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic associated with a method for determining thedistance between two color coordinates in a direct normal to a colorconfusion line.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematics of some embodiments of a devicecomprising a touch screen component.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of some embodiments of a device comprising a touchscreen component.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of some embodiments of a device comprising a touchscreen component.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of some embodiments of a device comprising a touchscreen component.

FIG. 6 shows the absorbance and emission spectra for an embodiment of anoptical element described herein.

FIG. 7 shows the light transmittance spectra for an embodiment of anoptical element described herein.

FIG. 8 shows the light transmittance spectra for an embodiment of anoptical element described herein compared to a commercially availablematerial.

FIG. 9 shows the light transmittance spectra for another embodiment ofan optical element described herein.

FIG. 10 shows the light transmittance spectra for an embodiment of anoptical element described herein.

FIG. 11 shows the absorbance and emission spectra for an embodiment ofan optical element described herein.

FIG. 12 shows the light transmittance spectra for an embodiment of anoptical element described herein.

FIG. 13 shows the absorbance and emission spectra for an embodiment ofan optical element described herein.

FIG. 14 shows the light transmittance spectra for an embodiment of apolymerizable dye described herein.

FIG. 15 shows the light transmittance spectra for an embodiment of apolymerizable dye described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of an optical element can correct visual insensitivitybetween a first visible color wavelength and a second visible colorwavelength. In an embodiment, the optical element corrects visualinsensitivity by enhancing the transmission in an emissive bandwidththat corresponds to the first visible color wavelength. The firstvisible color wavelength can be in the red, orange, yellow, green, orblue region of visible wavelength light. In an embodiment, the firstvisible color wavelength comprises a wavelength that is in the greenbandwidth. In an embodiment, the first visible color wavelength is inthe range of about 450 nm to about 600 nm, about 500 nm to about 580 nm,or about 520 nm to about 550 nm. In some embodiments, the luminescentcompound may provide the enhanced emission in the first visible colorwavelength.

The second visible color wavelength can be in the red, yellow, orange,green, or blue region of visible wavelength light. In general, the firstvisible color wavelength is less than the second visible colorwavelength, which means that the first visible color wavelength isshorter, or more blue shifted, than the second visible color wavelength.In an embodiment, the second visible color wavelength comprises awavelength that is in the red bandwidth. For example, for individualssuffering from a red-green color deficiency, it would be beneficial toincrease the perception to green wavelength light, while optionallydecreasing the perception to red wavelength light. In an embodiment, thesecond visible color wavelength is in the range of about 530 nm to about800 nm, about 560 nm to about 720 nm, about 580 nm to about 710 nm,about 600 nm to about 700 nm, about 530 nm to about 720 nm, about 540 nmto about 710 nm, or about 550 nm to about 700 nm.

The amount of luminescent compound present in the substantiallytransparent matrix material to form the optical element can vary. Anyamount of luminescent compound that increases the emission of the firstvisible color wavelength, increases the emission of the second visiblecolor wavelength, further separates the peak emissive wavelength of thefirst color wavelength from the second color wavelength or bothincreases and separates the peak emissive wavelengths in the opticalelement, such that the first visible color wavelength is more easilydiscerned to a colorblind individual, is suitable. In one embodiment,the luminescent compound is present in an amount selected to provide atransmittance that is greater than 90% at the first visible wavelengthin the optical element. This is surprising, particularly if the opticalelement also comprises a light absorbing dye.

The absorbance band of a light absorbing dye may overlap with theemission band of the luminescent compound in this case, resulting inless than 100% transmittance in the green wavelength. In an embodiment,the luminescent compound is present in an amount that provides atransmittance that is greater than 95%, greater than 100%, greater than101%, greater than 102%, greater than 103%, greater than 104%, orgreater than 105%, at the first visible wavelength in the opticalelement.

In one embodiment, the luminescent compound is present in an amount thatshifts and further separates the first peak emissive wavelength at leastabout 1 nm, 2 nm, 5 nm, or 8 nm relative the second peak emissivewavelength. In one embodiment, the luminescent compound is present in anamount that both increases intensity and shifts and further separatesthe first peak emissive wavelength by at least 1 nm, 2 nm, 5 nm, or 8 nmrelative the second peak emissive wavelength.

The luminescent compound can be present in the substantially transparentmatrix material in an amount in the range of about 0.01% to about 30%,about 0.01% to about 20%, about 0.01% to about 15%, about 1% to about20%, about 1% to about 15%, about 2% to about 12%, about 5% to about10%, or about 10% by weight, based upon the weight of the composition,or in any amount in a range bounded by, or between, any of these values.

The luminescent dye used in the optical element can vary. In anembodiment, the luminescent compound comprises a perylene derivativedye, such as an optionally substituted perylene; an optionallysubstituted rhodamine, including optionally optionally substitutedrhodamine 110, optionally substituted rhodamine 123, optionallysubstituted rhodamine 6G, optionally substituted rhodamine 116,optionally substituted rhodamine B, optionally substituted rhodamine 3B,optionally substituted rhodamine 19, etc.; optionally substituted Nilered; optionally substituted fluorescein, including optionallysubstituted fluorescein isothiocyanate, etc.; optionally substituted6-FAM phosphoramidite; optionally substituted4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY), includingoptionally substituted BODIPY FL, optionally substituted BODIPY R6G,optionally substituted BODIPY TMR, optionally substituted BODIPY630/650, optionally substituted BODIPY TR, optionally substituted BODIPY630/650, optionally substituted BODIPY 650/665, etc.; optionallysubstituted coumarin; etc.; optionally substituted pyrromethene 605; ora combination thereof.

Unless otherwise indicated, any reference to a compound herein bystructure, name, or any other means, includes salts, includingzwitterionic forms; alternate solid forms, such as polymorphs, solvates,hydrates, etc.; tautomers; or any other chemical species that mayrapidly convert to a compound described herein under conditions in whichthe compounds are used as described herein.

Any structure or name for a compound used herein may refer to anystereoisomer or any mixture of stereoisomers.

Unless otherwise indicated, when a compound or chemical structuralfeature such as alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl,perylene, etc., is referred to as being “optionally substituted,” itincludes a feature that has no substituents (i.e. “unsubstituted”), or afeature that is “substituted,” meaning that the feature has one or moresubstituents. The term “substituent” has the ordinary meaning known toone of ordinary skill in the art, and includes a moiety that replacesone or more hydrogen atoms attached to a parent compound or structuralfeature. In some embodiments, the substituent may be an ordinary organicmoiety known in the art, which may have a molecular weight (e.g. the sumof the atomic masses of the atoms of the substituent) of 15 g/mol to 50g/mol, 15 g/mol to 100 g/mol, 15 g/mol to 150 g/mol, 15 g/mol to 200g/mol, 15 g/mol to 300 g/mol, or 15 g/mol to 500 g/mol. In someembodiments, the substituent comprises: 0-30, 0-20, 0-10, or 0-5 carbonatoms; and 0-30, 0-20, 0-10, or 0-5 heteroatoms independently selectedfrom: N, O, S, Si, F, Cl, Br, or I; provided that the substituentcomprises at least one atom selected from: C, N, O, S, Si, F, Cl, Br, orI. In some embodiments, a substituent may consist of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 non-hydrogen atoms and any necessary hydrogenatoms. Some non-hydrogen atoms may include C, N, O, S, Si, F, Cl, Br, 1,P, etc.

Examples of substituents include, but are not limited to, alkyl(including linear, branched, and cycloalkyl), alkenyl (including linear,branched, and cycloalkenyl), alkynyl (including linear, branched, andcyclo alkynyl), heteroalkyl, heteroalkenyl, heteroalkynyl, aryl,heterocyclic substituents (including heteroaryl and heteroalicyclicsubstituents), hydroxy, protected hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyl,acyloxy, alkylcarboxylate, carboxylate, thiol, alkylthio, arylthio,cyano, halo, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, O-carbamyl, N-carbamyl,O-thiocarbamyl, N-thiocarbamyl, C-amido, N-amido, S-sulfonamido,N-sulfonamido, isocyanato, thiocyanato, isothiocyanato, nitro, silyl,sulfenyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, haloalkyl, haloalkoxyl,trihalomethanesulfonyl, trihalomethanesulfonamido, and amino, includingmono- and di-substituted amino groups, and the protected derivativesthereof, etc., or a combination thereof. The term “combination thereof”in the previous list indicates that substituents may also include acombination of any of the above substituents, wherein a hydrogen atom ofone substituent is replaced by another substituent. For example,substituents may be a combination of alkyl and aryl (e.g. arylalkyl suchas CH₂-phenyl, or heteroarylalkyl such as C₂H₄-heteraryl, etc.), alkyland a heterocyclic substituent (e.g. heterocyclylalkyl), alkyl andalkoxy (e.g. CH₂OCH₃), alkyl and halo (e.g. C₂H₄Cl, C₃H₆F, etc.), acyland hydroxyl (e.g. —COCH₂₀H), etc.

For convenience, the term “molecular weight” is used with respect to amoiety or part of a molecule to indicate the sum of the atomic masses ofthe atoms in the moiety or part of a molecule, even though it may not bea complete molecule. “Molecular weight” may also refer to completemolecules.

Structures associated with some of the chemical names referred to hereinare depicted below. These structures may be unsubstituted, as shownbelow, or a substituent may independently be in any position normallyoccupied by a hydrogen atom when the structure is unsubstituted.

Unless a point of attachment is indicated by

, attachment may occur at any position normally occupied by a hydrogenatom.

As used herein the term “alkyl” has the broadest meaning generallyunderstood in the art, and may include a moiety composed of carbon andhydrogen containing no double or triple bonds. Alkyl may be linearalkyl, branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, or a combination thereof, and in someembodiments, may contain from one to thirty-five carbon atoms. In someembodiments, alkyl may include C₁₋₁₀ linear alkyl, such as methyl(—CH₃), ethyl (—CH₂CH₃), n-propyl (—CH₂CH₂CH₃), n-butyl (—CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃),n-pentyl (—CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃), n-hexyl (—CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃), etc.; C₃₋₁₀branched alkyl, such as C₃H₇ (e.g. iso-propyl), C₄H₅ (e.g. branchedbutyl isomers), C₅H₁₁ (e.g. branched pentyl isomers), C₆H₁₃ (e.g.branched hexyl isomers), C₇H₁₅ (e.g. heptyl isomers), etc.; C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl, such as C₃H₅ (e.g. cyclopropyl), C₄H₇ (e.g. cyclobutylisomers such as cyclobutyl, methylcyclopropyl, etc.), C₅H₅ (e.g.cyclopentyl isomers such as cyclopentyl, methylcyclobutyl,dimethylcyclopropyl, etc.) C₆H₁₁ (e.g. cyclohexyl isomers), C₇H₁₃ (e.g.cycloheptyl isomers), etc.; and the like. In some embodiments, and alkylgroup may include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl,sec-butyl, tert-butyl, isohexyl, isooctyl, 2-ethyl-hexyl, etc.

An alkoxy group may also be linear, branched, or cyclic. Some examplesof useful alkoxy groups include methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, and butoxy. Analkoxyalkyl group may also be linear or branched. Some examples ofuseful alkoxyalkyl groups include methoxymethyl, methoxyethyl,methoxypropyl, ethoxymethyl, ethoxyethyl, ethoxypropyl, propoxymethyl,propoxyethyl, and propoxypropyl.

Some examples of useful cycloalkyl groups include cyclopentyl,cyclohexyl, or cyloheptyl. Some examples of useful aryl groups includephenyl, diphenyl, tolyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl, and anthracenyl. Someexamples of useful arylalkyl groups include benzyl, phenethyl,diphenylmethyl, trityl, naphthylmethyl, phenanthylmethyl, andanthranylmethyl.

Some optionally substituted perylenes may be represented by Formula 1:

Phi-Per-Ph²  Formula 1

With respect to Formula 1, Phi may be optionally substituted phenyl. Ifthe phenyl is substituted, it may have 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 substituents.Any substituent may be included on the phenyl. In some embodiments, someor all of the substituents on the phenyl may have: from 0 to 12 carbonatoms and from 0 to 5 heteroatoms independently selected from: O, N, S,F, Cl, Br, and I (provided that there is at least non-hydrogen atom);and/or a molecular weight of 15 g/mol to 250 g/mol or about 500 g/mol.For example, the substituents may be C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, such as CH₃, C₂H₅,C₃H₇, cyclic C₃H₅, C₄H₉, cyclic C₄H₇, C₅H₁₁, cyclic C₅H₉, C₆H₁₃, cyclicC₆H₁₁, etc.; C₁₋₁₀ alkoxy such as —OCH₃, —OC₂H₅, —OC₃H₇, cyclic —OC₃H₅,—OC₄H₉, cyclic —OC₄H₇, —OC₅H₁₁, cyclic —OC₅H₉, —OC₆H₁₃, cyclic —OC₆H₁₁,etc.; halo, such as F, Cl, Br, I; OH; CN; NO₂; fluoroalkyl, such as CF₃,CF₂H, O₂F₅, etc.; a C₁₋₁₀ ester such as —O₂CCH₃, —CO₂CH₃, —O₂CC₂H₅,—CO₂C₂H₅, —O₂C-phenyl, —CO₂-phenyl, etc.; a C₁₋₁₀ amide such as —CONH₂,—CONHCH₃, —NHCO-phenyl, etc.; a C₁₋₁₀ ketone such as —COCH₃, —COC₂H₅,—COC₃H₇, —CO-phenyl, etc.; or a C₁₋₁₀ amine such as NH₂, NH(CH₃),N(CH₃)₂, N(CH₃)C₂H₅, etc. In some embodiments, the phenyl is optionallysubstituted with 1 or 2 substituents independently selected from C₁₋₆alkyl, CF₃, and F. In some embodiments, the phenyl has a CF₃ substituentand is otherwise unsubstituted.

With respect to Formula 1, Ph² may be optionally substituted phenyl. Ifthe phenyl is substituted, it may have 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 substituents.Any substituent may be included on the phenyl. In some embodiments, someor all of the substituents on the phenyl may have: from 0 to 12 carbonatoms and from 0 to 5 heteroatoms independently selected from: O, N, S,F, Cl, Br, and I (provided that there is at least 1 non-hydrogen atom);and/or a molecular weight of 15 g/mol to 250 g/mol or about 500 g/mol.For example, the substituents may be C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, such as CH₃, C₂H₅,C₃H₇, cyclic C₃H₅, C₄H₉, cyclic C₄H₇, C₅H₁₁, cyclic C₅H₉, C₆H₁₃, cyclicC₆H₁₁, etc.; C₁₋₁₀ alkoxy such as —OCH₃, —OC₂H₅, —OC₃H₇, cyclic —OC₃H₅,—OC₄H₉, cyclic —OC₄H₇, —OC₅H₁₁, cyclic —OC₅H₉, —OC₆H₁₃, cyclic —OC₆H₁₁,etc.; halo, such as F, Cl, Br, I; OH; CN; NO₂; fluoroalkyl, such as CF₃,CF₂H, O₂F₅, etc.; a C₁₋₁₀ ester such as —O₂CCH₃, —CO₂CH₃, —O₂CC₂H₅,—CO₂C₂H₅, —O₂C-phenyl, —CO₂-phenyl, etc.; a C₁₋₁₀ amide such as —CONH₂,—CONHCH₃, —NHCO-phenyl, etc.; a C₁₋₁₀ ketone such as —COCH₃, —COC₂H₅,—COC₃H₇, —CO-phenyl, etc.; or a C₁₋₁₀ amine such as NH₂, NH(CH₃),N(CH₃)₂, N(CH₃)C₂H₅, etc. In some embodiments, the phenyl is optionallysubstituted with 1 or 2 substituents independently selected from C₁₋₆alkyl, CF₃, and F. In some embodiments, the phenyl has a CF₃ substituentand is otherwise unsubstituted.

With respect to Formula 1, Per may be optionally substituted perylene.If the perylene is substituted, it may have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,or 10 substituents. Any substituent may be included on the perylene. Insome embodiments, some or all of the substituents on the perylene mayhave: from 0 to 12 carbon atoms and from 0 to 5 heteroatomsindependently selected from: O, N, S, F, Cl, Br, and I (provided thatthere is at least non-hydrogen atom); and/or a molecular weight of 15g/mol to 250 g/mol or about 500 g/mol. For example, the substituents maybe C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, such as CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, cyclic C₃H₅, C₄H₉, cyclic C₄H₇,C₅H₁₁, cyclic C₅H₉, C₆H₁₃, cyclic C₆H₁₁, etc.; C₁₋₁₀ alkoxy such as—OCH₃, —OC₂H₅, —OC₃H₇, cyclic —OC₃H₅, —OC₄H₉, cyclic —OC₄H₇, —OC₅H₁₁,cyclic —OC₅H₉, —OC₆H₁₃, cyclic —OC₆H₁₁, etc.; halo, such as F, Cl, Br,I; OH; CN; NO₂; C₁₋₆ fluoroalkyl, such as CF₃, CF₂H, C₂F₅, etc.; a C₁₋₁₀ester such as —O₂CCH₃, —CO₂CH₃, —O₂CC₂H₅, —CO₂C₂H₅, —O₂C-phenyl,—CO₂-phenyl, etc.; a C₁₋₁₀ amide such as —CONH₂, —CONHCH₃, —NHCO-phenyl,etc.; a C₁₋₁₀ ketone such as —COCH₃, —COC₂H₅, —COC₃H₇, —CO-phenyl, etc.;or a C₁₋₁₀ amine such as NH₂, NH(CH₃), N(CH₃)₂, N(CH₃)C₂H₅, etc. In someembodiments, the perylene is optionally substituted with 1 or 2substituents independently selected from C₁₋₆ alkyl, CF₃, and F. In someembodiments, Per is unsubstituted.

Some optionally substituted perylenes may be represented by any ofFormulas 2-7:

Generally R²-R²³, may be H or any substituent, such as a substituenthaving from 0 to 12 carbon atoms and from 0 to 5 heteroatomsindependently selected from: O, N, S, F, Cl, Br, and I, and/or having amolecular weight of 15 g/mol to 300 g/mol. In some embodiments, R²-R²³may have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 carbon atoms, and 0, 1, or 2oxygen atoms, 0 or 1 nitrogen atoms, and/or 0 or 1 sulfar atoms. Any ofR²-R²³ may comprise: a) 1 or more alkyl moieties, aryl moieties, and/orheteroaryl moieties, optionally substituted with, or optionallyconnected by or to, b) 1 or more functional groups, such as C═C, C≡C,CO, CO₂, CON, NCO₂, OH, SH, O, S, N, N═C, F, Cl, Br, I, CN, NO₂, CO₂H,NH₂, etc.; or may be a substituent having no alkyl portion, such as F,Cl, Br, I, NO₂, CN, NH₂, OH, COH, CO₂H, etc.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R² may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R² may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R² maybe H. In some embodiments, R² is CO₂R^(A).

Each R^(A) in any formula or structural depiction herein mayindependently be H, or C₁₋₁₂ alkyl, including: linear or branched alkylhaving a formula C_(a)H_(a+1), or cycloalkyl having a formulaC_(a)H_(a−1), wherein a is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12,such as linear or branched alkyl of a formula: CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, C₄H₉,C₅H₁₁, C₆H₁₃, C₇H₁₅, C₈H₁₇, C₉H₁₉, C₁₀H₂₁, etc., or cycloalkyl of aformula: C₃H₅, C₄H₇, C₅H₉, C₆H₁₁, C₇H₁₃, C₈H₁₅, C₉H₁₇, C₁₀H₁₉, etc.

Each R^(B) in any formula or structural depiction herein mayindependently be H, or C₁₋₁₂ alkyl, including: linear or branched alkylhaving a formula C_(a)H_(a+1), or cycloalkyl having a formulaC_(a)H_(a), wherein a is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12, suchas linear or branched alkyl of a formula: CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, C₄H₉, C₅H₁₁,C₆H₁₃, C₈H₁₇, C₇H₁₅, C₉H₁₉, C₁₀H₂₁, etc., or cycloalkyl of a formula:C₃H₅, C₄H₇, C₅H₉, C₆H₁₁, C₇H₁₃, C₈H₁₅, C₉H₁₇, C₁₀H₁₉, etc.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R³ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R³ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R³ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R⁴ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R⁴ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or —O—C₁₋₆ alkyl, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R⁴ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R⁵ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R⁵ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R⁵ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, suchas Formula 1, in some embodiments, one of R³, R⁴, and R⁵ is optionallysubstituted phenyl, and the other two of R³, R⁴, and R⁵ are not phenyl.If the phenyl is substituted, it may have 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 substituents.Any substituent may be included on the phenyl. In some embodiments, someor all of the substituents on the phenyl may have: from 0 to 12 carbonatoms and from 0 to 5 heteroatoms independently selected from: O, N, S,F, Cl, Br, and I; and/or a molecular weight of 15 g/mol to 500 g/mol.For example, the substituents may be C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, such as CH₃, C₂H₅,C₃H₇, cyclic C₃H₅, C₄H₉, cyclic C₄H₇, C₅H₁₁, cyclic C₅H₉, C₆H₁₃, cyclicC₆H₁₁, etc.; C₁₋₁₀ alkoxy; halo, such as F, Cl, Br, I; OH; CN; NO₂; C₁₋₆fluoroalkyl, such as CF₃, CF₂H, O₂F₅, etc.; a C₁₋₁₀ ester such as—O₂CCH₃, —CO₂CH₃, —O₂CC₂H₅, —CO₂C₂H₅, —O₂C-phenyl, —CO₂-phenyl, etc.; aC₁₋₁₀ amide such as —CONH₂, —CONHCH₃, —NHCO-phenyl, etc.; a C₁₋₁₀ ketonesuch as —COCH₃, —COC₂H₅, —COC₃H₇, —CO-phenyl, etc.; or a C₁₋₁₀ aminesuch as NH₂, NH(CH₃), N(CH₃)₂, N(CH₃)C₂H₅, etc. In some embodiments, thephenyl is optionally substituted with 1 or 2 substituents independentlyselected from C₁₋₆ alkyl, CF₃, and F. In some embodiments, the phenylhas a CF₃ substituent and is otherwise unsubstituted.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R⁶ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R⁶ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R⁶ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R⁷ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R⁷ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R⁷ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R⁵ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R⁵ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R⁵ maybe H. In some embodiments, R⁵ is CO₂R^(A).

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R⁹ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R⁹ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of O-butyl, isomers of —O-cyclobutyl,isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomers of —O-hexyl,isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R⁹ may be H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R¹⁹ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R¹⁹ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R¹⁹ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R¹¹ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R¹¹ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R¹¹ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, suchas Formula 1, in some embodiments, one of R⁹, R¹⁰, and R¹¹ is optionallysubstituted phenyl, and the other two of R⁹, R¹⁰, and R¹¹ are notphenyl. If the phenyl is substituted, it may have 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5substituents. Any substituent may be included on the phenyl. In someembodiments, some or all of the substituents on the phenyl may have:from 0 to 12 carbon atoms and from 0 to 5 heteroatoms independentlyselected from: O, N, S, F, Cl, Br, and I; and/or a molecular weight of15 g/mol to 500 g/mol. For example, the substituents may be C₁₋₁₀ alkyl,such as CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, cyclic C₃H₅, C₄H₉, cyclic O₄H₇, C₅H₁₁, cyclicC₅H₉, C₆H₁₃, cyclic C₆H₁₁, etc.; C₁₋₁₀ alkoxy; halo, such as F, Cl, Br,I; OH; CN; NO₂; C₁₋₆ fluoroalkyl, such as CF₃, CF₂H; O₂F₅, etc.; a C₁₋₁₀ester such as —O₂CCH₃, —CO₂CH₃, —O₂CC₂H₅, —CO₂C₂H₅, —O₂C-phenyl,—CO₂-phenyl, etc.; a C₁₋₁₀ amide such as —CONH₂, —CONHCH₃, —NHCO-phenyl,etc.; a C₁₋₁₀ ketone such as —COCH₃, —COC₂H₅, —COC₃H₇, —CO-phenyl, etc.;or a C₁₋₁₀ amine such as NH₂, NH(CH₃), N(CH₃)₂, N(CH₃)C₂H₅, etc. In someembodiments, the phenyl is optionally substituted with 1 or 2substituents independently selected from C₁₋₆ alkyl, CF₃, and F. In someembodiments, the phenyl has a CF₃ substituent and is otherwiseunsubstituted.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R¹² may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R¹² may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R¹² maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R¹³ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R¹³ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R¹³ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R¹⁴ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R¹⁴ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R¹⁴ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R¹⁵ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R¹⁵ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R¹⁵ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R¹⁶ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R¹⁶ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R¹⁶ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R¹⁷ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R¹⁷ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R¹⁷ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R¹⁸ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R¹⁸ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R¹⁸ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R¹⁹ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R¹⁹ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R¹⁹ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R²⁰ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R²⁰ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of O-butyl, isomers of —O-cyclobutyl,isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomers of —O-hexyl,isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R²⁰ may be H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R²¹ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R²¹ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R²¹ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R²² may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R²² may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R²² maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R²³ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R²³ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R²³ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, suchas Formula 5 or Formula 6, R¹ may be hydrogen; C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, includinglinear and branched alkyl such as CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, C₄H₉, C₅H₁₁, C₆H₁₃,etc, and C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl such as C₃H₅, C₄H₇, C₅H₉, C₆H₁₁, etc.; C₂-C₁₀alkoxyalkyl; C₆-C₁₈ aryl, such as optionally substituted phenyl,optionally substituted naphthyl, etc.; and C₆-C₂₀ arylalkyl, such asoptionally substituted benzyl, optionally substituted diphenylmethyl,trityl, etc. In some embodiments, R¹ may be isopropyl, isobutyl,isohexyl, isooctyl, 2-ethyl-hexyl, diphenylmethyl, trityl, or diphenyl.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, suchas Formula 5 or Formula 6, R^(1′) may be hydrogen; C₁-C₁₀ alkyl,including linear and branched alkyl such as CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, C₄H₉,C₅H₁₁, C₆H₁₃, etc, and C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl such as C₃H₅, C₄H₇, C₅H₉,C₆H₁₁, etc.; C₂-C₁₀ alkoxyalkyl; C₆-C₁₈ aryl, such as optionallysubstituted phenyl, optionally substituted naphthyl, etc.; and C₆-C₂₀arylalkyl, such as optionally substituted benzyl, optionally substituteddiphenylmethyl, trityl, etc. In some embodiments, R¹ may be isopropyl,isobutyl, isohexyl, isooctyl, 2-ethyl-hexyl, diphenylmethyl, trityl, ordiphenyl.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, suchas Formula 5, m may be 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. In some embodiments, m is 1, 2,3, or 4.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, suchas Formula 5, n may be 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. In some embodiments, n is 1, 2,3, or 4.

In some embodiments, R¹ and R^(1′) are each independently hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkoxyalkyl and C₆-C₁₈ aryl, or C₆-C₂₀ arylalkyl. The alkyland alkoxyalkyl groups may be branched, linear, or cyclic. Somenon-limiting examples include isopropyl, isobutyl, isohexyl, isooctyl,2-ethyl-hexyl. Some non-limiting examples of aryl and arylalkyl groupsinclude diphenylmethyl, trityl, and diphenyl.

In an embodiment, the luminescent compound comprises diisobutyl4,10-bis(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)perylene-3,9-dicarboxylate (Green-1):

In some embodiments, a luminescent compound may be an optionallysubstituted rhodamine or a rhodamine derivative, such as a compound ofany of Formula 8, Formula 9, or Formula 10:

Generally R²⁴-R³⁸, may be H or any substituent, such as a substituenthaving from 0 to 6 carbon atoms and from 0 to 5 heteroatomsindependently selected from: O, N, S, F, Cl, Br, and I, and/or having amolecular weight of 15 g/mol to 300 g/mol. In some embodiments, R²⁴-R³⁸may have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 carbon atoms, 0 or 1 nitrogenatoms, and/or 0 or 1 sulfur atoms. Any of R²⁴-R³⁸ may comprise: a) 1 ormore alkyl moieties optionally substituted with, or optionally connectedby or to, b) 1 or more functional groups, such as C═C, C≡C, CO, CO₂,CON, NCO₂, OH, SH, O, S, N, N═C, F, Cl, Br, I, CN, NO₂, CO₂H, NH₂, etc.;or may be substituent having no alkyl portion, such as F, Cl, Br, I,NO₂, CN, NH₂, OH, COH, CO₂H, etc.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R²⁴ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R²⁴ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of O-butyl, isomers of —O-cyclobutyl,isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomers of —O-hexyl,isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R²⁴ may be H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R²⁵ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R²⁵ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R²⁵ maybe H or CH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R²⁶ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R²⁶ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R²⁶ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R²⁷ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R²⁷ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R²⁷ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R²⁸ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R²⁸ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R²⁸ maybe H or CH₃.

In some embodiments both R²⁵ and R²⁸ may be H or both R²⁵ and R²⁸ may beCH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R²⁹ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R²⁹ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R²⁹ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R³⁰ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R³⁰ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R³⁰ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R³¹ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R³¹ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R³¹ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R³² may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R³² may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R³² maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R³³ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R³³ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, suchas methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R³³ maybe H.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R³⁴ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R³⁴ may be H or C₁₋₆ alkyl,such as methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers,cyclobutyl isomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers,cyclohexyl isomers, etc. In some embodiments, R³⁴ may be H; CH₃, orCH₂CH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R³⁵ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R³⁵ may be H or C₁₋₆ alkyl,such as methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers,cyclobutyl isomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers,cyclohexyl isomers, etc. In some embodiments, R³⁵ may be H, CH₃, orCH₂CH₃.

In some embodiments, R³⁴ and R³⁵ are both H or CH₃, or R³⁴ is H and R³⁵is CH₃ or CH₂CH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R³⁶ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R³⁶ may be H or C₁₋₆ alkyl,such as methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers,cyclobutyl isomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers,cyclohexyl isomers, etc. In some embodiments, R³⁶ may be H, CH₃, orCH₂CH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R³⁷ may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃,NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R³⁷ may be H or C₁₋₆ alkyl,such as methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers,cyclobutyl isomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers,cyclohexyl isomers, etc. In some embodiments, R³⁷ may be H, CH₃, orCH₂CH₃.

In some embodiments, R³⁶ and R³⁷ are both H or CH₃, or R³⁶ is H and R³⁷is CH₃ or CH₂CH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R³⁸ may include R^(A). In some embodiments, R³⁸may be H or C₁₋₆ alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers,cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutyl isomers, pentyl isomers,cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexyl isomers, etc. In someembodiments, R³⁸ may be H, CH₃, or CH₂CH₃.

Some luminescent compounds may be an optionally substituted BODIPY orBODIPY derivative, such as a compound of any of Formula 11, Formula 12,Formula 13, Formula 14, or Formula 15:

Generally R^(X1)-R^(X7), may be H or any substituent, such as asubstituent having from 0 to 6 carbon atoms and from 0 to 5 heteroatomsindependently selected from: O, N, S, F, Cl, Br, and I, and/or having amolecular weight of 15 g/mol to 300 g/mol. In some embodimentsR^(X1)-R^(X7) may have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 carbon atoms, 0or 1 nitrogen atoms, and/or 0 or 1 sulfur atoms. Any of R^(X1)-R^(X7)may comprise: a) 1 or more alkyl moieties optionally substituted with,or optionally connected by or to, b) 1 or more functional groups, suchas C═C, C≡C, CO, CO₂, CON, NCO₂, OH, SH, O, S, N, N═C, F, Cl, Br, I, CN,NO₂, CO₂H, NH₂, etc.; or may be substituent having no alkyl portion,such as F, Cl, Br, I, NO₂, CN, NH₂, OH, COH, CO₂H, etc.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R^(X1) may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A),CF₃, NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), —CH₂OCO₂R^(A), etc. In some embodiments, R^(X1) may be H;C₁₋₆ alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butylisomers, cyclobutyl isomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexylisomers, cyclohexyl isomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl,—O-ethyl, isomers of —O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl,isomers of —O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of—O-cyclopentyl, isomers of —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. Insome embodiments, R^(X1) may be —CH₂OCOCH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R^(X2) may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A),CF₃, NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R^(X2) may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl,such as methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers,cyclobutyl isomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers,cyclohexyl isomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl,isomers of —O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R^(X2)may be CH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R^(X3) may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A),CF₃, NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R^(X3) may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl,such as methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers,cyclobutyl isomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers,cyclohexyl isomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl,isomers of —O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R^(X3)may be —CH₂CH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R^(X4) may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A),CF₃, NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R^(X4) may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl,such as methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers,cyclobutyl isomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers,cyclohexyl isomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl,isomers of —O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R^(X4)may be CH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R^(X5) may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A),CF₃, NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R^(X5) may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl,such as methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers,cyclobutyl isomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers,cyclohexyl isomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl,isomers of —O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R^(X5)may be CH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R^(X6) may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A),CF₃, NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R^(X6) may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl,such as methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers,cyclobutyl isomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers,cyclohexyl isomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl,isomers of —O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R^(X6)may be —CH₂CH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction above, somenon-limiting examples of R^(X7) may include R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A),CF₃, NO₂, NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B),CONR^(A)R^(B), etc. In some embodiments, R^(X7) may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl,such as methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers,cyclobutyl isomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers,cyclohexyl isomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl,isomers of —O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc. In some embodiments, R^(X7)may be CH₃.

In some embodiments, a luminescent compound may be polymerized into thematrix material. For example, the matrix material may comprise repeatunits that contain a luminescent group as a pendant group. While thereare many ways that a luminescent compound may be polymerized into amatrix material, in some embodiments, a luminescent compound has apolymerizable substituent, or is a polymerized derivative of thepolymerizable substituent. In some embodiments, any of R¹⁻³⁸,R^(X1)-R^(X7), and R^(1′) may be a substituted vinyl, a substitutedacrylate, a substituted alkacrylate, an epoxide, a polyol, apolyisocyanate, or a corresponding polymerized derivative thereof. Insome embodiments, any of R¹⁻³⁸, R^(X1)-R^(X7), and R^(1′) may bepolymerizable substituent M1, M2, or M3, or polymerized derivativethereof P1, P2, P3, shown in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Any of R¹⁻³⁸ and R^(1′) Polymerizable substituent

M1

M2

M3 Polymerized derivative

P1

P2

P3

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction herein,such as M2 or P2, X may be—, O, S, or NH.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction herein,such as M1 or P1, R³⁹ may be—; O; C₁₋₁₂ alkyl, including: linear orbranched alkyl having a formula C_(a)H_(2a), or cycloalkyl having aformula C_(a)H_(2a-2), wherein a is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,or 12, such as linear or branched alkyl of a formula: CH₂, C₂H₄, C₃H₆,C₄H₈, C₅H₁₀, C₆H₁₂, C₇H₁₄, C₈H₁₆, C₉H₁₈, C₁₀H₂₀, etc., or cycloalkyl ofa formula: C₃H₄, C₄H₆, C₅H₈, C₆H₁₀, C₇H₁₂, C₈H₁₄, C₉H₁₆, C₁₀H₁₈, etc.;or C₁₋₁₂—O-alkyl-, including: linear or branched —O-alkyl- having aformula —O—C_(a)H_(a)—, or —O-cycloalkyl- having a formula—O-C_(a)H_(2a-2)—, wherein a is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or12, such as linear or branched alkyl of a formula: —O—CH₂—, —O—C₂H₄—,—O—C₃H₆—, —O—C₆H₁₀—, —O—C₆H₁₂—, —O—C₈H₁₆—, —O—C₆H₁₈—, —O—C₁₀H₂₀—, etc.,or —O-cycloalkyl- of a formula: —O—C₃H₄—, —O—C₄H₆—, —O—C₆H₁₀—,—O—C₇H₁₂—, —O—C₈H₁₄—, —O—C₉H₁₆—, —O—C₁₀H₁₆—, etc., where the —O— may beon either side of the alkyl (e.g. —O-alkyl- or -alkyl-O—).

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction herein,such as M1 or P1, R⁴⁹ may be R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃, NO₂,NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B), orCONR^(A)R^(B). In some embodiments, R⁴⁹ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, such asmethyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc.; F; Cl; CN; CF₃; or OCOCH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction herein,such as M1 or P1, R⁴¹ may be R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃, NO₂,NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B), orCONR^(A)R^(B). In some embodiments, R⁴¹ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, such asmethyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc.; F; Cl; CN; CF₃; or OCOCH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction herein,such as M1 or P1, R⁴² may be R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃, NO₂,NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B), orCONR^(A)R^(B). In some embodiments, R⁴² may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, such asmethyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc.; F; Cl; CN; CF₃; or OCOCH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction herein,such as M2 or P2, R⁴³ may be—; C₁₋₁₂ alkyl, including: linear orbranched alkyl having a formula C_(a)H_(a), or cycloalkyl having aformula C_(a)H_(2a-2), wherein a is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,or 12, such as linear or branched alkyl of a formula: CH₂, C₂H₄, C₃H₆,C₄H₈, C₅H₁₀, C₆H₁₂, C₇H₁₄, C₈H₁₆, C₉H₁₈, C₁₀H₂₀, etc., or cycloalkyl ofa formula: C₃H₄, C₄H₆, C₅H₈, C₆H₁₀, C₇H₁₂, C₈H₁₄, C₉H₁₆, C₁₀H₁₈, etc.;or C₁₋₁₂—O-alkyl-, including: linear or branched —O-alkyl- having aformula —O—C_(a)H_(a)—, or —O-cycloalkyl- having a formula—O—C_(a)H_(2a-2)—, wherein a is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or12, such as linear or branched alkyl of a formula: —O—CH₂—, —O—C₂H₄—,—O—C₃H₆—, —O—C₈H₁₆—, —O—C₉H₁₈—, —O—C₁₀H₂₀—, etc., or —O-cycloalkyl- of aformula: —O—C₃H₄—, —O—C₄H₆—, —O—C₆H₁₀—, —O—C₇H₁₂—, —O—C₈H₁₄—, —O—C₉H₁₆—,—O—C₁₀H₁₈—, etc., where the —O— does not attach to X.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction herein,such as M3 or P3, R⁴⁴ may be—; O; C₁₋₁₂ alkyl, including: linear orbranched alkyl having a formula C_(a)H_(a), or cycloalkyl having aformula C_(a)H_(2a-2), wherein a is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,or 12, such as linear or branched alkyl of a formula: CH₂, C₂H₄, C₃H₆,C₄H₈, C₅H₁₀, C₆H₁₂, C₇H₁₄, C₈H₁₆, C₉H₁₈, C₁₀H₂₀, etc., or —O-cycloalkyl-of a formula: C₃H₄, C₄H₆, C₅H₈, C₆H₁₀, C₇H₁₂, C₈H₁₄, C₉H₁₆, C₁₀H₁₈,etc.; or C₁₋₁₂—O-alkyl-, including: linear or branched —O-alkyl- havinga formula —O—C_(a)H_(a)—, or —O-cycloalkyl- having a formula—O—C_(a)H_(2a-2)—, wherein a is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or12, such as linear or branched alkyl of a formula: —O—CH₂—, —O—C₂H₄—,—O—C₃H₆—, —O—C₄H₈—, —O—C₅H₁₀—, —O—C₆H₁₂—, —O—C₇H₁₄—, —O—C₈H₁₆—,—O—C₉H₁₈—, —O—C₁₀H₂₀—, etc., or —O-cycloalkyl- of a formula: —O—C₃H₄—,—O—C₄H₆—, —O—C₅H₈—, —O—C₆H₁₀, —O—C₇H₁₂—, —O—C₈H₁₄—, —O—C₉H₁₆—,—O—C₁₀H₁₈—, etc., where the —O— may be on either side of the alkyl (e.g.—O-alkyl- or -alkyl-O—).

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction herein,such as M3 or P3, R⁴⁵ may be R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃, NO₂,NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B), orCONR^(A)R^(B). In some embodiments, R⁴⁵ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, such asmethyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc.; F; Cl; CN; CF₃; or OCOCH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction herein,such as M3 or P3, R⁴⁶ may be R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃, NO₂,NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B), orCONR^(A)R^(B). In some embodiments, R⁴⁶ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, such asmethyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc.; F; Cl; CN; CF₃; or OCOCH₃.

With respect to any relevant formula or structural depiction herein,such as M3 or P3, R⁴⁷ may be R^(A), F, Cl, CN, OR^(A), CF₃, NO₂,NR^(A)R^(B), COR^(A), CO₂R^(A), OCOR^(A), NR^(A)COR^(B), orCONR^(A)R^(B). In some embodiments, R⁴⁷ may be H; C₁₋₆ alkyl, such asmethyl, ethyl, propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutylisomers, pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclohexylisomers, etc.; or C₁₋₆ alkoxy, such as —O-methyl, —O-ethyl, isomers of—O-propyl, —O-cyclopropyl, isomers of —O-butyl, isomers of—O-cyclobutyl, isomers of —O-pentyl, isomers of —O-cyclopentyl, isomersof —O-hexyl, isomers of —O-cyclohexyl, etc.; F; Cl; CN; CF₃; or OCOCH₃.

In some embodiments, R¹ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R¹ is M1. In some embodiments, R¹ is M2. In someembodiments, R¹ is M3. In some embodiments, R¹ is P1. In someembodiments, R¹ is P2. In some embodiments, R¹ is P3.

In some embodiments, R^(1′) is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R^(1′) is M1. In some embodiments, R^(1′) is M2. In someembodiments, R^(1′) is M3. In some embodiments, R^(1′) is P1. In someembodiments, R^(1′) is P2. In some embodiments, R^(1′) is P3.

In some embodiments, R² is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R² is M1. In some embodiments, R² is M2. In someembodiments, R² is M3. In some embodiments, R² is P1. In someembodiments, R² is P2. In some embodiments, R² is P3.

In some embodiments, R³ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R³ is M1. In some embodiments, R³ is M2. In someembodiments, R³ is M3. In some embodiments, R³ is P1. In someembodiments, R³ is P2. In some embodiments, R³ is P3.

In some embodiments, R⁴ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R⁴ is M1. In some embodiments, R⁴ is M2. In someembodiments, R⁴ is M3. In some embodiments, R⁴ is P1. In someembodiments, R⁴ is P2. In some embodiments, R⁴ is P3.

In some embodiments, R⁵ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R⁵ is M1. In some embodiments, R⁵ is M2. In someembodiments, R⁵ is M3. In some embodiments, R⁵ is P1. In someembodiments, R⁵ is P2. In some embodiments, R⁵ is P3.

In some embodiments, R⁶ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R⁶ is M1. In some embodiments, R⁶ is M2. In someembodiments, R⁶ is M3. In some embodiments, R⁶ is P1. In someembodiments, R⁶ is P2. In some embodiments, R⁶ is P3.

In some embodiments, R⁷ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R⁷ is M1. In some embodiments, R⁷ is M2. In someembodiments, R⁷ is M3. In some embodiments, R⁷ is P1. In someembodiments, R⁷ is P2. In some embodiments, R⁷ is P3.

In some embodiments, R⁵ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R⁵ is M1. In some embodiments, R⁵ is M2. In someembodiments, R⁵ is M3. In some embodiments, R⁵ is P1. In someembodiments, R⁵ is P2. In some embodiments, R⁵ is P3.

In some embodiments, R⁹ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R⁹ is M1. In some embodiments, R⁹ is M2. In someembodiments, R⁹ is M3. In some embodiments, R⁹ is P1. In someembodiments, R⁹ is P2. In some embodiments, R⁹ is P3.

In some embodiments, R¹⁰ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R¹⁰ is M1. In some embodiments, R¹⁰ is M2. In someembodiments, R¹⁰ is M3. In some embodiments, R¹⁰ is P1. In someembodiments, R¹⁰ is P2. In some embodiments, R¹⁰ is P3.

In some embodiments, R¹¹ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R¹¹ is M1. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is M2. In someembodiments, R¹¹ is M3. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is P1. In someembodiments, R¹¹ is P2. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is P3.

In some embodiments, R¹² is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R¹² is M1. In some embodiments, R¹² is M2. In someembodiments, R¹² is M3. In some embodiments, R¹² is P1. In someembodiments, R¹² is P2. In some embodiments, R¹² is P3.

In some embodiments, R¹³ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R¹³ is M1. In some embodiments, R¹³ is M2. In someembodiments, R¹³ is M3. In some embodiments, R¹³ is P1. In someembodiments, R¹³ is P2. In some embodiments, R¹³ is P3.

In some embodiments, R¹⁴ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R¹⁴ is M1. In some embodiments, R¹⁴ is M2. In someembodiments, R¹⁴ is M3. In some embodiments, R¹⁴ is P1. In someembodiments, R¹⁴ is P2. In some embodiments, R¹⁴ is P3.

In some embodiments, R¹⁵ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R¹⁵ is M1. In some embodiments, R¹⁵ is M2. In someembodiments, R¹⁵ is M3. In some embodiments, R¹⁵ is P1. In someembodiments, R¹⁵ is P2. In some embodiments, R¹⁵ is P3.

In some embodiments, R¹⁶ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R¹⁶ is M1. In some embodiments, R¹⁶ is M2. In someembodiments, R¹⁶ is M3. In some embodiments, R¹⁶ is P1. In someembodiments, R¹⁶ is P2. In some embodiments, R¹⁶ is P3.

In some embodiments, R¹⁷ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R¹⁷ is M1. In some embodiments, R¹⁷ is M2. In someembodiments, R¹⁷ is M3. In some embodiments, R¹⁷ is P1. In someembodiments, R¹⁷ is P2. In some embodiments, R¹⁷ is P3.

In some embodiments, R¹⁸ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R¹⁸ is M1. In some embodiments, R¹⁸ is M2. In someembodiments, R¹⁸ is M3. In some embodiments, R¹⁸ is P1. In someembodiments, R¹⁸ is P2. In some embodiments, R¹⁸ is P3.

In some embodiments, R¹⁹ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R¹⁹ is M1. In some embodiments, R¹⁹ is M2. In someembodiments, R¹⁹ is M3. In some embodiments, R¹⁹ is P1. In someembodiments, R¹⁹ is P2. In some embodiments, R¹⁹ is P3.

In some embodiments, R²⁰ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R²⁰ is M1. In some embodiments, R²⁰ is M2. In someembodiments, R²⁰ is M3. In some embodiments, R²⁰ is P1. In someembodiments, R²⁰ is P2. In some embodiments, R²⁰ is P3.

In some embodiments, R²¹ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R²¹ is M1. In some embodiments, R²¹ is M2. In someembodiments, R²¹ is M3. In some embodiments, R²¹ is P1. In someembodiments, R²¹ is P2. In some embodiments, R²¹ is P3.

In some embodiments, R²² is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R²² is M1. In some embodiments, R²² is M2. In someembodiments, R²² is M3. In some embodiments, R²² is P1. In someembodiments, R²² is P2. In some embodiments, R²² is P3.

In some embodiments, R²³ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R²³ is M1. In some embodiments, R²³ is M2. In someembodiments, R²³ is M3. In some embodiments, R²³ is P1. In someembodiments, R²³ is P2. In some embodiments, R²³ is P3.

In some embodiments, R²⁴ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R²⁴ is M1. In some embodiments, R²⁴ is M2. In someembodiments, R²⁴ is M3. In some embodiments, R²⁴ is P1. In someembodiments, R²⁴ is P2. In some embodiments, R²⁴ is P3.

In some embodiments, R²⁵ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R²⁵ is M1. In some embodiments, R²⁵ is M2. In someembodiments, R²⁵ is M3. In some embodiments, R²⁵ is P1. In someembodiments, R²⁵ is P2. In some embodiments, R²⁵ is P3.

In some embodiments, R²⁶ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R²⁶ is M1. In some embodiments, R²⁶ is M2. In someembodiments, R²⁶ is M3. In some embodiments, R²⁶ is P1. In someembodiments, R²⁶ is P2. In some embodiments, R²⁶ is P3.

In some embodiments, R²⁷ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R²⁷ is M1. In some embodiments, R²⁷ is M2. In someembodiments, R²⁷ is M3. In some embodiments, R²⁷ is P1. In someembodiments, R²⁷ is P2. In some embodiments, R²⁷ is P3.

In some embodiments, R²⁸ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R²⁸ is M1. In some embodiments, R²⁸ is M2. In someembodiments, R²⁸ is M3. In some embodiments, R²⁸ is P1. In someembodiments, R²⁸ is P2. In some embodiments, R²⁸ is P3.

In some embodiments, R²⁹ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R²⁹ is M1. In some embodiments, R²⁹ is M2. In someembodiments, R²⁹ is M3. In some embodiments, R²⁹ is P1. In someembodiments, R²⁹ is P2. In some embodiments, R²⁹ is P3.

In some embodiments, R³⁰ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R³⁰ is M1. In some embodiments, R³⁰ is M2. In someembodiments, R³⁰ is M3. In some embodiments, R³⁰ is P1. In someembodiments, R³⁰ is P2. In some embodiments, R³⁰ is P3.

In some embodiments, R³¹ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R³¹ is M1. In some embodiments, R³¹ is M2. In someembodiments, R³¹ is M3. In some embodiments, R³¹ is P1. In someembodiments, R³¹ is P2. In some embodiments, R³¹ is P3.

In some embodiments, R³² is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R³² is M1. In some embodiments, R³² is M2. In someembodiments, R³² is M3. In some embodiments, R³² is P1. In someembodiments, R³² is P2. In some embodiments, R³² is P3.

In some embodiments, R³³ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R³³ is M1. In some embodiments, R³³ is M2. In someembodiments, R³³ is M3. In some embodiments, R³³ is P1. In someembodiments, R³³ is P2. In some embodiments, R³³ is P3.

In some embodiments, R³⁴ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R³⁴ is M1. In some embodiments, R³⁴ is M2. In someembodiments, R³⁴ is M3. In some embodiments, R³⁴ is P1. In someembodiments, R³⁴ is P2. In some embodiments, R³⁴ is P3.

In some embodiments, R³⁵ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R³⁵ is M1. In some embodiments, R³⁵ is M2. In someembodiments, R³⁵ is M3. In some embodiments, R³⁵ is P1. In someembodiments, R³⁵ is P2. In some embodiments, R³⁵ is P3.

In some embodiments, R³⁶ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R³⁶ is M1. In some embodiments, R³⁶ is M2. In someembodiments, R³⁶ is M3. In some embodiments, R³⁶ is P1. In someembodiments, R³⁶ is P2. In some embodiments, R³⁶ is P3.

In some embodiments, R³⁷ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R³⁷ is M1. In some embodiments, R³⁷ is M2. In someembodiments, R³⁷ is M3. In some embodiments, R³⁷ is P1. In someembodiments, R³⁷ is P2. In some embodiments, R³⁷ is P3.

In some embodiments, R³⁸ is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R³⁸ is M1. In some embodiments, R³⁸ is M2. In someembodiments, R³⁸ is M3. In some embodiments, R³⁸ is P1. In someembodiments, R³⁸ is P2. In some embodiments, R³⁸ is P3.

In some embodiments, R^(X1) is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R^(X1) is M1. In some embodiments, R^(X1) is M2. In someembodiments, R^(X1) is M3. In some embodiments, R^(X1) is P1. In someembodiments, R^(X1) is P2. In some embodiments, R^(X1) is P3. In someembodiments, R^(X1) is M2 or P2, and R⁴³ is —CH₂—, X is O, and R^(A) isCH₃.

In some embodiments, R^(X2) is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R^(X2) is M1. In some embodiments, R^(X2) is M2. In someembodiments, R^(X2) is M3. In some embodiments, R^(X2) is P1. In someembodiments, R^(X2) is P2. In some embodiments, R^(X2) is P3.

In some embodiments, R^(X3) is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R^(X3) is M1. In some embodiments, R^(X3) is M2. In someembodiments, R^(X3) is M3. In some embodiments, R^(X3) is P1. In someembodiments, R^(X3) is P2. In some embodiments, R^(X3) is P3.

In some embodiments, R^(X4) is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R^(X4) is M1. In some embodiments, R^(X4) is M2. In someembodiments, R^(X4) is M3. In some embodiments, R^(X4) is P1. In someembodiments, R^(X4) is P2. In some embodiments, R^(X4) is P3.

In some embodiments, R^(X5) is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R^(X5) is M1. In some embodiments, R^(X5) is M2. In someembodiments, R^(X5) is M3. In some embodiments, R^(X5) is P1. In someembodiments, R^(X5) is P2. In some embodiments, R^(X5) is P3.

In some embodiments, R^(X6) is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R^(X6) is M1. In some embodiments, R^(X6) is M2. In someembodiments, R^(X6) is M3. In some embodiments, R^(X6) is P1. In someembodiments, R^(X6) is P2. In some embodiments, R^(X6) is P3.

In some embodiments, R^(X7) is M1, M2, M3, P1, P2, or P3. In someembodiments, R^(X7) is M1. In some embodiments, R^(X7) is M2. In someembodiments, R^(X7) is M3. In some embodiments, R^(X7) is P1. In someembodiments, R^(X7) is P2. In some embodiments, R^(X7) is P3.

In some embodiments, any of R³⁰, R³¹, R³², or R³³ may be a polymerizablegroup, such as methacrylate or propyl-3-methacrylate:

or the corresponding polymerized derivative:

With respect to Formula 8, in some embodiments, R²⁴, R²⁶, R²⁷, R²⁹, R³⁰,R³¹, R³², and R³³ are H, and the remaining groups are as shown in Table2.

TABLE 2 Compound R²⁵ R²⁸ R³⁴ R³⁵ R³⁶ R³⁷ R³⁸ A H H H H H H H B H H H H HH CH₃ C H H CH₂CH₃ H CH₂CH₃ H CH₂CH₃ D CH₃ CH₃ CH₂CH₃ H CH₂CH₃ H CH₂CH₃E H H CH₃ H CH₃ H H F H H CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ H G H H CH₂CH₃CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ H CH₃ CH₃ CH₂CH₃ H CH₂CH₃ H H I H H CH₃ CH₃CH₃ CH₃ H J H H CH₃ CH₃ CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ H

With respect to Formula 8, in some embodiments R²⁴, R²⁶, R²⁷, and R²⁹;one of R³⁰, R³¹, R³², and R³³ is R^(Z) or a polymerized group of R^(Z)and the remaining three groups of R³⁰, R³¹, R³², and R³³ are H; and theremaining groups of Formula 8 are as shown in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Compound R^(z) R²⁵ R²⁸ R³⁴ R³⁵ R³⁶ R³⁷ R³⁸ K methacrylate H HCH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ H L propyl-3-methacrylate: H H CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ H M propyl-3-methacrylate: H H CH₃ CH₃ CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ H Nmethacrylate H H H H H H CH₃ O propyl-3-methacrylate: H H CH₂CH₃ HCH₂CH₃ H CH₂CH₃

In some embodiments, a luminescent compound may be rhodamine 6G.

An optical element may comprise more than one luminescent compound sothat the absorption and emission spectrum of the optical element may bedifferent from that of one of the luminescent compounds. For example, aspectrum of an optical element may be a combination, such as aconcentration related sum, of the spectrum of the individual dyes.

The optical element can comprise a second luminescent compound (orsecond luminescent material) to enhance the intensity of the first coloror second color, increase the spectral separation between the firstcolor and the second color; or both enhance the intensity and increasethe spectral separation between the first and second color wavelengths.In an embodiment, the second luminescent compound isN-phenyl-N-(4′-(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)naphthalen-1-amine[KR material] or 4,4′-bis[N-(naphthyl)-N-phenyl-amino]biphenyl. In oneembodiment, the second luminescent compound increases the intensity ofthe first visible color or the second visible color to increase thedistinctiveness between the first and second colors, e.g., green or red.In an embodiment, the second luminescent compound down shifts (redshifts) the peak wavelength of the first visible color relative to thesecond visible color to increase the distinctiveness between the firstand second colors. In an embodiment, the second luminescent compoundboth increases the intensity and increases the spectral separationbetween the first and second visible colors' peak wavelengths to enhancethe distinction between the first and second visible colors.

In some embodiments, the second luminescent compound absorbs at a firstwavelength and emits at a second emissive wavelength. In an embodiment,the second emissive wavelength is substantially near the desiredwavelength to be enhanced, or intensified, for example substantially thesame peak wavelength of the desired color to be enhanced, orsubstantially along the desired less overlapped slope of the desiredcolor to be enhanced.

In an embodiment, if the first color is green, then the desired emissivepeak wavelength of the luminescent material can be substantially thesame as the green emissive peak. For example, in an embodiment, if thepeak is green, e.g., about 530 nm, then the second emissive peakwavelength can be between about 515 nm and about 545 nm, between about520 nm and about 540 nm, or between about 525 nm and about 535 nm. In anembodiment, if the first color is red, then the desired wavelength canbe along the red shoulder of the emissive peak, that shoulder whichoverlaps less with the second color (green) emissive spectra. Forexample, in one embodiment, if the peak is red, then the second emissivepeak wavelength can be between about 550 nm and about 600 nm, betweenabout 550 nm and about 590 nm, or between about 550 nm and about 570 nm.

In another embodiment, the second luminescent compound down shifts (redshifts) a selected peak wavelength to increase the distinctivenessbetween the first and second colors. For example, the second luminescentcompound can have an absorption peak wavelength substantially the sameas the green sensitivity wavelength and an emissive peak wavelength atabout the peak of the red sensitivity wavelength or along the slope ofthe sensitivity. In an embodiment, with a small stokes shift luminescentmaterial, substantially green light is absorbed and re-emitted at alonger or more red wavelength.

In another embodiment, the luminescent material both increases theintensity and increases the spectral separation between the first andsecond colors as described above.

In some embodiments, the luminescent compound or the optical element mayabsorb light at an absorption wavelength and emit light at an emissionwavelength, wherein a human cone photopigment is substantially moresensitive to the emission wavelength than to the absorption wavelength.For example, the human cone photopigment may be at least about 1.5,about 2, about 3, or about 4 times; and/or up to about 10 times, about20 times, about 50 times, or about 100 times as sensitive to theemission wavelength as it is to the absorption wavelength. In someembodiments, a human cone photopigment is less sensitive to at leastabout 50%, at least about 70%, at least about 80%, or at least about90%; and/or up to about 100%; of the visible light absorbed by theluminescent compound as compared to the visible light emitted by theluminescent compound.

Enhanced sensitivity may be with respect to any photopigment, such as anormal human cone middle-wavelength sensitive (M) photopigment, avariant human cone middle-wavelength sensitive (MV) photopigment, anormal human cone long-wavelength sensitive (L) photopigment, varianthuman cone long-wavelength sensitive (LV) photopigment, or a normalhuman cone short-wavelength sensitive (S) photopigment, provided thatthe absorption and emission sensitivities are compared with respect tothe same photopigment.

In some embodiments, a luminescent feature such as an optical element, aluminescent compound, or a combination of luminescent compounds has amedian wavelength of visible absorption, an average wavelength ofvisible absorption, a peak wavelength of visible absorption, a maximumwavelength of visible absorption, or at least about 20%, about 50%,about 70%, or about 90% of its visible absorption, in a range of about380 nm to about 450 nm, about 420 nm to about 480 nm, about 510 nm toabout 550 nm, about 520 nm to about 540 nm, or about 530 nm to about 550nm. In some embodiments, a luminescent feature has a median wavelengthof visible emission, an average wavelength of visible emission, a peakwavelength of visible emission, a maximum wavelength of visibleemission, or at least about 20%, at least about 50%, at least about 70%,or at least about 90% of its visible absorption in a range of about 500nm to about 600 nm, about 540 nm to about 580 nm, about 550 nm to about570 nm, or about 560 nm to about 580 nm.

A median wavelength of visible absorption is the wavelength at which thenumber of visible photons absorbed having a longer wavelength than themedian wavelength is substantially the same as the number of visiblephotons absorbed having a shorter wavelength than the median wavelength.A median wavelength of visible emission of is the wavelength at whichthe number of visible photons emitted having a longer wavelength thanthe median wavelength is substantially the same as the number of visiblephotons emitted having a shorter wavelength than the median wavelength.A median wavelength may be visually estimated on a spectrum by choosinga wavelength that divides the area of the visible spectrum into twosubstantially equal halves. An average wavelength of visible absorption(or visible emission) is the average wavelength of all photons in thevisible range. A peak wavelength of visible absorption or visibleemission is a peak in the spectrum in the visible range. A maximumwavelength of visible absorption or visible emission is the highest peakwavelength in the visible spectrum. As used herein, the terms“absorption,” “absorb,” or a form of these terms, are used as shorthandfor “a median wavelength of visible absorption, an average wavelength ofvisible absorption, a peak wavelength of visible absorption, a maximumwavelength of visible absorption, or a wavelength range in which atleast about 50%, about 80%, or about 90% of visible light absorptionoccurs.” As used herein, the terms “emission,” “emit,” or a form ofthese terms are used as shorthand for “a median wavelength of visibleemission, an average wavelength of visible emission, a peak wavelengthof visible emission, a maximum wavelength of visible emission, or awavelength range in which at least about 50%, about 80%, or about 90% ofvisible light emission occurs.”

In some embodiments, an optical element may absorb light in a wavelengthrange near peak sensitivity for an M human cone photopigment, such as awavelength range where relative sensitivity (Table 4) is at least about0.9 (e.g. about 510 nm to about 550 nm), about 0.93, about 0.95, about0.96, about 0.97, about 0.98, about 0.99, or about 1.0; and emit lightof a longer wavelength in a wavelength range near peak sensitivity foran L human cone photopigment, such as a wavelength range where relativesensitivity (Table 4) is at least about 0.9 (e.g. about 540 nm to about580 nm for M human cone photopigments), about 0.93, about 0.95, about0.96, about 0.97, about 0.98, about 0.99, or about 1.0. An opticalelement may generally emit at a higher wavelength than it absorbs, suchas at a wavelength that is at least about 5 nm, about 10 nm, about 20nm, or about 30 nm higher. In some embodiments, an optical element mayhave an absorption that is slightly red-shifted with respect to peaksensitivity for an M human cone photopigment and may have an emissionthat is slightly blue-shifted with respect to peak sensitivity for an Lhuman cone photopigment.

Relative sensitivities of an M, an L, an S, an MV, and an LV humanphotopigment are listed in Table 4. The relative sensitivities arescaled to a maximum sensitivity of 1.00 for each photopigment. Suitableabsorption and emission ranges for an optical element, a luminescentcompound, or a combination of luminescent compounds may be derived fromany set of values in Table 4. For example, a luminescent compound mayabsorb in a low sensitivity range for the M photopigment, such as about384 nm to about 440 nm, about 380 nm to about 410 nm, or any other rangedefined by any values in Table 4 in these ranges; and may emit in a highsensitivity range for the M photopigment such as about 465 nm to about585 nm, about 510 nm to about 550 nm, or any other range defined by anyvalues in Table 4 in these ranges. In some embodiments, a luminescentcompound may absorb in a low sensitivity range for the L photopigment,such as about 384 nm to about 460 nm, about 380 nm to about 430 nm, orany other range defined by any values in Table 4 in these ranges; andmay emit in a high sensitivity range for the L photopigment such asabout 495 nm to about 620 nm, about 540 nm to about 580 nm, or any otherrange defined by any values in Table 4 in these ranges.

Suitable ranges for absorption and emission of an optical element, aluminescent compound, or a combination of luminescent compounds may alsobe derived from the sensitivity values from Table 4. For example, for agiven photopigment, an absorption range may correspond to wavelengthswith sensitivity values below about 0.15, about 0.2, about 0.25, orabout 0.3, and an emission range may correspond to wavelengths withsensitivity values about above about 0.4, about 0.5, about 0.6, about0.7, about 0.8, about 0.9, or about 1 from Table 4. Ranges derived fromTable 4 may include median visible wavelength ranges, average visiblewavelength ranges, peak visible wavelength ranges, maximum visiblewavelength ranges, etc., or may include ranges within which at leastabout 50%, about 70%, about 80%, or about 90% of the photons in thevisible spectrum are emitted or absorbed. In some embodiments,absorption may correspond to a sensitivity value of at least about 0.5,about 0.6, about 0.7, about 0.8, about 0.9, up to about 1 for an Mphotopigment.

TABLE 4 Relative Sensitivity of Various Photopigments in the VisibleRange Wavelength (nm) M L S MV LV 384 0.125 0.123 0.709 0.125 0.123 3850.125 0.123 0.724 0.125 0.123 386 0.125 0.123 0.739 0.125 0.123 3870.125 0.123 0.768 0.125 0.123 388 0.125 0.123 0.788 0.125 0.123 3890.125 0.123 0.798 0.125 0.123 390 0.125 0.123 0.808 0.125 0.123 3910.125 0.123 0.818 0.125 0.123 392 0.125 0.123 0.828 0.125 0.123 3930.126 0.123 0.847 0.125 0.123 394 0.126 0.123 0.867 0.125 0.123 3950.126 0.123 0.887 0.125 0.123 396 0.126 0.123 0.897 0.125 0.123 3970.126 0.123 0.906 0.125 0.123 398 0.126 0.123 0.926 0.125 0.123 3990.127 0.123 0.936 0.125 0.123 400 0.127 0.123 0.946 0.125 0.123 4010.127 0.123 0.956 0.126 0.123 402 0.127 0.123 0.966 0.126 0.123 4030.127 0.123 0.978 0.126 0.123 404 0.127 0.123 0.983 0.126 0.123 4050.127 0.123 0.987 0.126 0.123 406 0.127 0.123 0.990 0.126 0.123 4070.127 0.123 0.993 0.127 0.123 408 0.127 0.123 0.995 0.127 0.123 4090.127 0.123 0.997 0.127 0.123 410 0.127 0.123 0.999 0.127 0.123 4110.127 0.123 1.000 0.127 0.123 412 0.127 0.123 1.000 0.127 0.123 4130.128 0.123 1.000 0.127 0.123 414 0.127 0.123 0.999 0.127 0.123 4150.129 0.123 0.998 0.127 0.123 416 0.131 0.123 0.997 0.127 0.123 4170.133 0.123 0.990 0.127 0.123 418 0.135 0.123 0.988 0.127 0.123 4190.137 0.123 0.985 0.127 0.123 420 0.139 0.123 0.977 0.127 0.123 4210.141 0.123 0.966 0.128 0.123 422 0.143 0.123 0.961 0.127 0.123 4230.145 0.123 0.956 0.129 0.126 424 0.147 0.123 0.946 0.131 0.126 4250.149 0.123 0.936 0.133 0.132 426 0.151 0.123 0.926 0.135 0.133 4270.153 0.123 0.916 0.137 0.134 428 0.155 0.123 0.906 0.139 0.135 4290.157 0.123 0.897 0.141 0.136 430 0.164 0.126 0.887 0.143 0.137 4310.166 0.126 0.868 0.145 0.138 432 0.166 0.132 0.857 0.147 0.139 4330.171 0.133 0.845 0.149 0.140 434 0.176 0.134 0.833 0.151 0.141 4350.181 0.135 0.821 0.153 0.142 436 0.186 0.136 0.808 0.155 0.144 4370.191 0.137 0.795 0.157 0.146 438 0.196 0.138 0.778 0.164 0.148 4390.201 0.139 0.768 0.166 0.150 440 0.206 0.140 0.759 0.166 0.152 4410.212 0.141 0.749 0.171 0.154 442 0.218 0.142 0.729 0.176 0.156 4430.224 0.144 0.709 0.181 0.158 444 0.230 0.146 0.690 0.186 0.160 4450.236 0.148 0.675 0.191 0.162 446 0.242 0.150 0.660 0.196 0.164 4470.250 0.152 0.645 0.201 0.166 448 0.258 0.154 0.631 0.206 0.167 4490.266 0.156 0.616 0.212 0.169 450 0.274 0.158 0.606 0.218 0.171 4510.282 0.160 0.591 0.224 0.174 452 0.290 0.162 0.576 0.230 0.178 4530.298 0.164 0.562 0.236 0.182 454 0.306 0.166 0.547 0.242 0.186 4550.314 0.167 0.532 0.250 0.190 456 0.322 0.169 0.517 0.258 0.194 4570.332 0.171 0.502 0.266 0.198 458 0.340 0.174 0.488 0.274 0.202 4590.350 0.178 0.473 0.282 0.206 460 0.358 0.182 0.458 0.290 0.210 4610.368 0.186 0.433 0.298 0.214 462 0.376 0.190 0.404 0.306 0.218 4630.384 0.194 0.384 0.314 0.222 464 0.392 0.198 0.369 0.322 0.228 4650.400 0.202 0.358 0.332 0.233 466 0.408 0.206 0.346 0.340 0.239 4670.416 0.210 0.334 0.350 0.245 468 0.424 0.214 0.322 0.358 0.251 4690.432 0.218 0.305 0.368 0.257 470 0.440 0.222 0.276 0.376 0.266 4710.448 0.228 0.251 0.384 0.275 472 0.456 0.233 0.239 0.392 0.284 4730.464 0.239 0.228 0.400 0.293 474 0.472 0.245 0.216 0.408 0.300 4750.481 0.251 0.204 0.416 0.307 476 0.490 0.257 0.192 0.424 0.315 4770.500 0.266 0.184 0.432 0.320 478 0.513 0.275 0.176 0.440 0.327 4790.525 0.284 0.168 0.448 0.335 480 0.535 0.293 0.161 0.456 0.342 4810.538 0.300 0.153 0.464 0.348 482 0.551 0.307 0.145 0.472 0.354 4830.564 0.315 0.137 0.481 0.363 484 0.577 0.320 0.129 0.490 0.369 4850.590 0.327 0.121 0.500 0.377 486 0.603 0.335 0.113 0.513 0.385 4870.616 0.342 0.105 0.525 0.393 488 0.629 0.348 0.098 0.535 0.401 4890.642 0.354 0.090 0.538 0.409 490 0.655 0.363 0.082 0.551 0.417 4910.668 0.369 0.080 0.564 0.425 492 0.681 0.377 0.074 0.577 0.433 4930.694 0.385 0.070 0.590 0.440 494 0.707 0.393 0.066 0.603 0.448 4950.720 0.401 0.062 0.616 0.456 496 0.733 0.409 0.058 0.629 0.464 4970.746 0.417 0.054 0.642 0.472 498 0.759 0.425 0.050 0.655 0.480 4990.772 0.433 0.046 0.668 0.488 500 0.785 0.440 0.042 0.681 0.500 5010.798 0.448 0.038 0.694 0.515 502 0.820 0.456 0.034 0.707 0.527 5030.840 0.464 0.033 0.720 0.537 504 0.850 0.472 0.031 0.733 0.550 5050.856 0.480 0.029 0.746 0.565 506 0.867 0.488 0.027 0.759 0.577 5070.878 0.500 0.025 0.772 0.590 508 0.889 0.515 0.023 0.785 0.603 5090.899 0.527 0.021 0.798 0.616 510 0.908 0.537 0.021 0.820 0.629 5110.917 0.550 0.021 0.840 0.641 512 0.926 0.565 0.020 0.850 0.654 5130.934 0.577 0.020 0.856 0.667 514 0.942 0.590 0.020 0.867 0.680 5150.949 0.603 0.878 0.693 516 0.956 0.616 0.889 0.705 517 0.962 0.6290.899 0.718 518 0.968 0.641 0.908 0.731 519 0.973 0.654 0.917 0.744 5200.978 0.667 0.926 0.757 521 0.983 0.680 0.934 0.769 522 0.986 0.6930.942 0.782 523 0.990 0.705 0.949 0.795 524 0.993 0.718 0.956 0.801 5250.995 0.731 0.962 0.814 526 0.997 0.744 0.968 0.825 527 0.999 0.7570.973 0.835 528 0.999 0.769 0.978 0.847 529 1.000 0.782 0.983 0.858 5301.000 0.795 0.986 0.869 531 0.999 0.801 0.990 0.880 532 0.998 0.8140.993 0.890 533 0.997 0.825 0.995 0.900 534 0.995 0.835 0.997 0.910 5350.992 0.847 0.999 0.919 536 0.989 0.858 0.999 0.927 537 0.986 0.8691.000 0.935 538 0.982 0.880 1.000 0.943 539 0.977 0.890 0.999 0.950 5400.973 0.900 0.998 0.956 541 0.967 0.910 0.997 0.963 542 0.961 0.9190.995 0.968 543 0.955 0.927 0.992 0.974 544 0.948 0.935 0.989 0.978 5450.941 0.943 0.986 0.983 546 0.933 0.950 0.982 0.987 547 0.923 0.9560.977 0.990 548 0.912 0.963 0.973 0.993 549 0.897 0.968 0.967 0.995 5500.887 0.974 0.961 0.997 551 0.877 0.978 0.955 0.999 552 0.866 0.9830.948 1.000 553 0.855 0.987 0.941 1.000 554 0.843 0.990 0.933 1.000 5550.831 0.993 0.923 0.999 556 0.818 0.995 0.912 0.998 557 0.805 0.9970.897 0.997 558 0.792 0.999 0.887 0.995 559 0.778 1.000 0.877 0.990 5600.771 1.000 0.866 0.986 561 0.764 1.000 0.855 0.982 562 0.749 0.9990.843 0.978 563 0.734 0.998 0.831 0.973 564 0.719 0.997 0.818 0.968 5650.704 0.995 0.805 0.962 566 0.688 0.992 0.792 0.956 567 0.671 0.9900.778 0.949 568 0.655 0.986 0.771 0.942 569 0.640 0.982 0.764 0.934 5700.625 0.978 0.749 0.926 571 0.610 0.973 0.734 0.917 572 0.595 0.9680.719 0.908 573 0.580 0.962 0.704 0.899 574 0.565 0.956 0.688 0.889 5750.550 0.949 0.671 0.879 576 0.535 0.942 0.655 0.868 577 0.520 0.9340.640 0.857 578 0.505 0.926 0.625 0.845 579 0.490 0.917 0.610 0.833 5800.475 0.908 0.595 0.821 581 0.460 0.899 0.580 0.808 582 0.445 0.8890.565 0.795 583 0.430 0.879 0.550 0.778 584 0.415 0.868 0.535 0.768 5850.400 0.857 0.520 0.759 586 0.385 0.845 0.505 0.749 587 0.370 0.8330.490 0.729 588 0.355 0.821 0.475 0.709 589 0.340 0.808 0.460 0.690 5900.328 0.795 0.445 0.675 591 0.316 0.778 0.430 0.660 592 0.304 0.7680.415 0.645 593 0.292 0.759 0.400 0.631 594 0.280 0.749 0.385 0.616 5950.268 0.739 0.370 0.606 596 0.256 0.729 0.355 0.591 597 0.244 0.7090.340 0.576 598 0.232 0.690 0.328 0.562 599 0.220 0.675 0.316 0.547 6000.208 0.660 0.304 0.532 601 0.200 0.645 0.292 0.517 602 0.192 0.6310.280 0.502 603 0.184 0.616 0.268 0.488 604 0.176 0.606 0.256 0.473 6050.170 0.591 0.244 0.458 606 0.164 0.576 0.232 0.443 607 0.158 0.5620.220 0.429 608 0.152 0.547 0.208 0.414 609 0.146 0.532 0.200 0.399 6100.140 0.517 0.192 0.384 611 0.134 0.502 0.184 0.369 612 0.128 0.4880.176 0.358 613 0.122 0.473 0.170 0.346 614 0.116 0.458 0.164 0.334 6150.110 0.443 0.158 0.322 616 0.104 0.429 0.152 0.310 617 0.098 0.4140.146 0.299 618 0.092 0.399 0.140 0.287 619 0.086 0.384 0.134 0.275 6200.080 0.369 0.128 0.263 621 0.076 0.358 0.122 0.251 622 0.072 0.3460.116 0.239 623 0.068 0.334 0.110 0.228 624 0.064 0.322 0.104 0.216 6250.060 0.310 0.098 0.204 626 0.056 0.299 0.092 0.192 627 0.052 0.2870.086 0.184 628 0.048 0.275 0.080 0.176 629 0.044 0.263 0.076 0.168 6300.040 0.251 0.072 0.161 631 0.038 0.239 0.068 0.153 632 0.036 0.2280.064 0.145 633 0.034 0.216 0.060 0.137 634 0.032 0.204 0.056 0.133 6350.030 0.192 0.052 0.129 636 0.028 0.184 0.048 0.125 637 0.026 0.1760.044 0.121 638 0.024 0.168 0.040 0.117 639 0.022 0.161 0.038 0.113 6400.020 0.153 0.036 0.109 641 0.018 0.145 0.034 0.105 642 0.016 0.1370.032 0.101 643 0.014 0.129 0.030 0.098 644 0.014 0.121 0.028 0.093 6450.013 0.113 0.026 0.088 646 0.012 0.105 0.024 0.083 647 0.012 0.0980.022 0.078 648 0.011 0.090 0.020 0.073 649 0.011 0.082 0.018 0.068 6500.010 0.080 0.016 0.063 651 0.010 0.074 0.014 0.058 652 0.009 0.0700.014 0.053 653 0.009 0.066 0.013 0.052 654 0.008 0.062 0.012 0.050 6550.008 0.058 0.012 0.049 656 0.007 0.054 0.011 0.047 657 0.007 0.0500.011 0.046 658 0.006 0.046 0.010 0.044 659 0.006 0.042 0.010 0.043 6600.005 0.038 0.009 0.041 661 0.005 0.034 0.009 0.040 662 0.004 0.0330.008 0.038 663 0.004 0.031 0.008 0.037 664 0.003 0.029 0.007 0.035 6650.003 0.027 0.007 0.034 666 0.003 0.025 0.006 0.033 667 0.003 0.0230.006 0.031 668 0.003 0.021 0.005 0.030 669 0.003 0.019 0.005 0.028 6700.003 0.017 0.004 0.027 671 0.003 0.015 0.004 0.025 672 0.003 0.0130.003 0.024 673 0.003 0.011 0.003 0.022 674 0.003 0.009 0.003 0.021 6750.003 0.008 0.003 0.019

In some embodiments, and optical element may absorb at about 530 nm toabout 540 nm, about 534 nm to about 537 nm, about 535 nm to about 536nm, about 545 nm to about 565 nm, about 549 nm to about 562 nm, about535 nm, about 536 nm, about 549 nm, about 557 nm, or about 562 nm; andmay have a transmittance of less than about 90%, about 85%, or about 80%in one of those ranges.

In some embodiments, an optical element may absorb at about 540 nm toabout 550 nm, about 545 nm to about 550 nm, or about 547 nm; and/or mayemit at about 560 nm to about 580 nm, about 565 nm to about 575 nm, orabout 569 nm.

In some embodiments, an optical element is configured to absorb and emitlight, e.g. absorb light of a shorter wavelength and emit light of alonger wavelength, so that a first color having a first set of colorcoordinates is converted to a second color having a second set of colorcoordinates. In some embodiments, the distance between the first set ofcolor coordinates and the second set of color coordinates may be atleast about 0.005, about 0.01, about 0.02, about 0.03, about 0.04, orabout 0.05 color coordinate units. A distance Δ between two sets ofcolor coordinates, (x₁,y₁) and (x₂,y₂), may be obtained by the formula:

Δ=√{square root over ([x ₂ −x ₁]² +[y ₂ −y ₁]²)}

For individuals with an impaired ability to discern colors, the distancebetween the first set of color coordinates and the second set of colorcoordinates in the direction normal to a color confusion line nearest tothe first set of color coordinates (referred to hereafter as “normaldistance”) may be at least about 0.02, about 0.03, about 0.04, or about0.05 color coordinate units. A “color coordination unit” refers to adistance on a CIE color triangle. CIE (1932). Commission Internationalede I'Eclairage proceedings, 1931. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.This exemplary standard is known in the art as the 1931 CIE XYZ colorspace and was set by the International Commission on Illumination. Forexample, the CIE color (0.332, 345) is 0.332 color coordinate units indistance from the y-axis and 0.345 color coordination units in distancefrom the x axis. For the purposes of this disclosure, the two colorcoordinates in a CIE color triangle (x, y) will be referred to as “the xcolor coordinate” and “the y color coordinate.”

For example, Table 5 shows how colors may be converted by an opticalelement for use with individuals with an impaired ability to discerncolors. Some optical elements may convert color A to color A′, and/ormay convert color B to color B′. Normal distances may be obtained bysubtracting the distance normal to a color confusion line of a firstcolor coordinates from the distance normal to a color confusion line ofa second color coordinate. A negative (−) distance value indicates thatthe point has a lower y value than the color confusion line, and apositive distance value indicates that the point has a higher y valuethan the color confusion line. The distance between the colorcoordinates of A and A′ in the direction normal to the color confusionline closest to the color coordinates of A is about 0.0095. The distancebetween the color coordinates of B and B′ in the direction normal to thecolor confusion line closest to the coordinates of B is about 0.0133.

TABLE 5 deuteranopia color distance normal to Color x y confusion linecolor confusion line A 0.379 0.486 8 −0.0020 A′ 0.384 0.468 8 0.0075 B0.478 0.414 9 0.0180 B′ 0.523 0.39 9 0.0313

In some embodiments, the x color coordinate may be about 0.290 to about0.295, about 0.325 to about 0.335, about 0.330 to about 0.335, about0.370 to about 0.375, about 0.375 to about 0.385, about 0.380 to about0.385, about 0.475 to about 0.485, about 0.475 to about 0.480, about0.51 to about 0.52, about 0.520 to about 0.525, about 0.520 to about0.523, about 0.56 to about 0.57, about 0.570 to about 0.575, about0.293, about 0.332, about 0.37, about 0.371, about 0.379, about 0.476,about 0.478, about 0.482, about 0.514, about 0.566, or about 0.573;and/or the y color coordinate may be about 0.34 to about 0.35, about0.385 to about 0.395, about 0.395 to about 0.400, about 0.41 to about0.42, about 0.465 to about 0.470, about 0.465 to about 0.475, about 0.48to about 0.49, about 0.495 to about 0.50, about 0.46 to about 0.47,about 0.344, about 0.345, about 0.39, about 0.398, about 0.463, about0.468, about 0.47, about 0.486, or about 0.497.

In some embodiments, the first set of color coordinates may be about(0.375-0.380, 0.485-0.490), about (0.475-0.480, 0.410-0.415), about(0.330-0.335, 0.340-0.345), about (0.570-0.575, 0.340-0.345), about(0.510-0.515, 0.340-0.344), about (0.480-0.485, 0.388-0.392), about(0.475-0.480, 0.468-0.473), about (0.565-0.570, 0.395-0.400), about(0.290-0.295, 0.495-0.500), about (0.368-0.373, 0.485-0.490), or about(0.370-0.375, 0.460-0.465).

In some embodiments, the first set of color coordinates is A or B and/orthe second set of color coordinates is A′ or B′. In some embodiments,the first set of color coordinates is one of colors 1-9 in Table 6.

TABLE 6 deuteranopia color distance normal to color Color x y confusionline confusion line 1 0.332 0.345 6 −0.0194 2 0.573 0.344 9 −0.0153 30.514 0.344 8 −0.0069 4 0.482 0.390 8 0.0041 5 0.476 0.470 9 0.0021 60.566 0.398 9 0.0171 7 0.293 0.497 7 0.0120 8 0.37 0.486 8 −0.0042 90.371 0.463 8 −0.0201

A color confusion line includes any line on a CIE color triangle alongwhich a person with a color blindness condition has difficultydistinguishing colors. Some examples of color confusion lines fordeuteranopia are provided in Table 7 and some examples of colorconfusion lines for protanopia are provided in Table 8. The colorconfusion lines have a formula y=mx+b, where m is the slope and b is they-intercept. In some embodiments, the color confusion line nearest tothe first set of color coordinates is deuteranopia color confusion line1, deuteranopia color confusion line 2, deuteranopia color confusionline 3, deuteranopia color confusion line 4, deuteranopia colorconfusion line 5, deuteranopia color confusion line 6, deuteranopiacolor confusion line 7, deuteranopia color confusion line 8, ordeuteranopia color confusion line 9, as shown in Table 7. In someembodiments, the color confusion line nearest to the first set of colorcoordinates is protanopia color confusion line 1, protanopia colorconfusion line 2, protanopia color confusion line 3, protanopia colorconfusion line 4, protanopia color confusion line 5, protanopia colorconfusion line 6, protanopia color confusion line 7, protanopia colorconfusion line 8, protanopia color confusion line 9, or protanopia colorconfusion line 10, as shown in Table 8.

TABLE 7 Slopes (m) and y-intercepts (b) of deuteranopia color confusionlines deutoronopia color confusion line 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 m −0.4 −0.46−0.54 −0.63 −0.71 −0.79 −0.87 −0.96 −1.04 b 0.112 0.207 0.312 0.4180.527 0.632 0.736 0.847 0.962 value of D when b₂-b₁ is: 0.02 0.019 0.0180.018 0.017 0.016 0.016 0.015 0.014 0.014 0.03 0.028 0.027 0.026 0.0250.024 0.024 0.023 0.022 0.021 0.04 0.037 0.036 0.035 0.034 0.033 0.0310.030 0.029 0.028 0.05 0.046 0.045 0.044 0.042 0.041 0.039 0.038 0.0360.035 0.06 0.056 0.055 0.053 0.051 0.049 0.047 0.045 0.043 0.042

TABLE 8 Slopes (m) and y-intercepts (b) of protanopia color confusionlines protanopia color confusion line 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 m 0.36 0.230.08 −0.06 −0.19 −0.32 −0.45 −0.58 −0.71 −0.87 b −0.04 0.06 0.18 0.280.38 0.48 0.58 0.68 0.78 0.9 value of D when b₂-b₁ is: 0.02 0.019 0.0190.020 0.020 0.020 0.019 0.018 0.017 0.016 0.015 0.03 0.028 0.029 0.0300.030 0.029 0.029 0.027 0.026 0.024 0.023 0.04 0.038 0.039 0.040 0.0400.039 0.038 0.036 0.035 0.033 0.030 0.05 0.047 0.049 0.050 0.050 0.0490.048 0.046 0.043 0.041 0.038 0.06 0.056 0.058 0.060 0.060 0.059 0.0570.055 0.052 0.049 0.045

While there may be many methods that can be used to determine thedistance between two sets of color coordinates in a direction normal toa color confusion line, one method is shown in FIG. 1. First line 210 iscalculated that incorporates or intersects first set of colorcoordinates 215 and is parallel to color confusion line 220. Second line230 is calculated that incorporates or intersects second set of colorcoordinates 235 and is parallel to color confusion line 220.

First line 210 and second line 230 have the same slope as the colorconfusion line. Y-intercept b₁ can be determined from the first set ofcolor coordinates 215, and y-intercept b₂ can be determined from thesecond set of color coordinates 235. For example, if the second set ofcolor coordinates is (x₂,y₂), the y-intercept b₂ would be:

b ₂ =y ₂ −mx ₂,

where m is the slope of the color confusion line (and any lines parallelto the color confusion line).

The shortest distance D between first line 210 and second line 230 isequal to the distance between the two sets of color coordinates in adirection normal to the color confusion lines. This distance may bedetermined using the following formula:

$D = \sqrt{\left\lbrack \frac{b_{2} - b_{1}}{\frac{- 1}{m} - m} \right\rbrack^{2} + \left\lbrack \frac{b_{2} - b_{1}}{{- 1} - m^{2}} \right\rbrack^{2}}$

wherein D is the distance between the two parallel lines, or thedistance in the direction normal to the color confusion line; b₂ is they-intercept for the line incorporating second set of color coordinates;b₁ is the y-intercept for the line incorporating first set of colorcoordinates; and m is the slope of the color confusion line. Tables 2and 3 show the values of D for some color confusion lines at variousvalues of b₂−b₁. The distance may also be estimated by plotting thelines and measuring the distance between the lines. In some embodiments,b₂−b1 may be at least about 0.02, about 0.03, about 0.04, about 0.05, orabout 0.06.

The optical element can also comprise a light absorbing dye, which canalso be dispersed in the substantially transparent matrix material. Inan embodiment, a light absorbing dye has an absorption band thatsubstantially overlaps with the second visible color wavelength. Thecombination of a luminescent compound that emits light at the firstvisible light wavelength and a light absorbing dye that absorbs light atthe second visible light wavelength can help improve distinction betweenthe two colors. For example, a luminescent compound that emits in thegreen wavelength of visible light used in combination with a lightabsorbing dye that absorbs red wavelength visible light may improve theability of a user to distinguish between red and green color hues.

A light-absorbing dye may absorb one color, such as red, and istransparent to all other wavelengths of light. A light-absorbing dye mayor may not be fluorescent. In an embodiment, a purpose of thelight-absorbing dye is to make objects of the same color as the dye'sabsorption band appear darker when viewed through the filter. Knownlight absorbing dyes can be used. In an embodiment, a light absorbingdye comprises a phthalocyanine dye, such as, for example, Epolight 6661and/or Epolight 6084, both of which are products of Epolin, Inc (Newark,N.J., USA). More than one light absorbing dye can be used. However, thesubstantial transparency of the optical element should be maintained.

An optical element can be manufactured in accordance with knownfilm-forming or lens-forming techniques, as guided by the teachingsprovided herein. The luminescent compound and/or light absorbing dye canbe combined with the substantially transparent matrix material in anappropriate weight ratio. The ingredients can be dissolved in anappropriate solvent, such as toluene, optionally with the use ofsonication. The solution can then be spin-coated into a film or onto anysubstantially transparent substrate. Heating the resulting film toevaporate the solvent provides a corrective optical element, which canbe placed between a colorblind person's eyes and an object that they areviewing to be effective.

To enhance the effectiveness of the filter, particularly in low-lightsettings, some luminescent compounds may have an absorption band(s) thatis (are) as narrow as possible. Some luminescent compounds may have anarrow Stokes shift, for example, of less than about 150 nm, or lessthan about 120 nm. A Stokes shift is the difference (in wavelength orfrequency units) between positions of the band maxima of the absorptionand emission spectra of the same electronic transition. If, for example,a compound has an absorption peak wavelength of about 485 nm and anemission peak wavelength of about 550 nm, the compound has a StokesShift of about 65 nm.

In an embodiment, a luminescent compound absorbs from within the UV/blueabsorption spectrum and emits within the green emission spectrum,enhancing the perceived emitted green light. In an embodiment, aluminescent compound absorbs from within the green absorption spectrumand emits within the red emission spectrum, enhancing the perceivedemitted red light. In an embodiment, a luminescent compound absorbs fromwithin the UV or blue absorption spectrum and emits within the redemission spectrum, enhancing the perceived emitted red light. In someembodiments, the luminescent compound can be a light-absorbing dye. Insome embodiments, the light-absorbing dye may absorb color approachingUV or blue light wavelengths, in the range of about 200 to about 450 nm,to increase color contrast and improve color discernment whileminimizing fatigue and visual stress associated with prolonged exposureto such short, high energy wavelengths. In an embodiment, this can havethe additional effect of protecting the user from undesirable UVradiation. Some undesirable UV wavelengths are classified as mid-rangeUVB, ranging from about 290 to about 320 nm, and long range UVA, rangingfrom about 320 to about 400 nm. In some embodiments, UV absorbingmaterials for use with lenses may be benzophenones and benzotriazolesand their derivatives, described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,106,108 and U.S.Pat. No. 5,621,052 and incorporated by reference herein. In someembodiments, an optical element may be infiltrated or layered with UVabsorbing material.

In some embodiments, the luminescent compound has a Stokes shift that isless than about 120 nm, less than about 110 nm, less than about 100 nm,less than about 90 nm, less than about 80 nm, less than 50 nm, less than30 nm, less than 20 nm, less than 10 nm, about 50 nm to about 120 nm,about 50 nm to about 110 nm, about 50 nm to about 100 nm, about 50 nm toabout 90 nm, about 60 nm to about 80 nm, or about 70 nm.

In an embodiment, the luminescent compound has a narrow absorption band.The full width at half maximum (FWHM) is the width of an absorption oremission band in nanometers at the absorption or emission intensity thatis half of the maximum absorption or intensity value for the band. In anembodiment, the luminescent compound has an absorption band with a FWHMvalue that is less than or equal to about 100 nm, less than or equal toabout 90 nm, or less than or equal to about 85 nm, less than or equal toabout 75 nm when dispersed in said substantially transparent matrix. Theabsorption peak of the luminescent compound can vary. In an embodiment,the absorption band peak of the luminescent compound is in the range ofabout 445 nm to about 525 nm, about 445 nm to about 505 nm, about 475 nmto about 490 nm, or about 483 nm.

In some embodiments a luminescent compound may have a high quantumyield, along with a maximum emission wavelength at the first visiblecolor wavelength. For example, where the first visible color wavelengthis green, a luminescent compound with a maximum emission in the greenwavelength may be used. In some embodiments, the luminescent compoundhas a peak emission at a wavelength in the range of about 450 nm toabout 600 nm, about 500 nm to about 580 nm, or about 520 nm to about 560nm. Upon excitation by visual light, the luminescent compound enhancesthe emissive intensity within the first color wavelength. In someembodiments, the luminescent compound has a quantum yield that isgreater than about 75%, about 80%, about 85%, or about 90%.

In some embodiments, the optical element further comprises a lightemitting element. The light emitting element can be in opticalcommunication with the luminescent compound to provide an excitationsource for the luminescent compound. In an embodiment, the lightemitting element comprises a light emitting thin film having a maximumemission peak within the absorption band range of the luminescentcompound. The absorption band range includes, but is not limited toabout 10 nm to about 20 nm of the absorption peak wavelength and oralong the shoulder of the emissive peak spectrum. In an embodiment, thelight emitting element comprises an inorganic or organic light emittingdiode (LED). Examples of light emitting diodes include inorganic blueemitting LEDs, e.g., made by Nichia (Japan), organic light emittingdiodes described in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos.2010/0326526 and 2011/0140093, and organic light emitting diodesdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/166,246, the contentsof each are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Ingeneral, any thin film flexible light emitting element, such asedge-type LED with flexible waveguided thin flexible polymer film, canbe used. In some embodiments, the optical element further comprises anoptical waveguide in optical communication with the luminescent elementand the light emitting element.

The optical element described herein is not limited in its form.Preferably, the optical element can be designed such that it can beplaced in a known manner between a user's eye and any object or image tobe perceived. In an embodiment, the optical element comprises a film.The film can have varying thickness. In an embodiment, the film isattached to a piece of eyewear. For example, the optical element cancomprise a lens. The luminescent compound can be dispersed within thelens material, or it can be dispersed in a film that is attached to thelens material. In an embodiment, the lens comprises a contact lens or aneyeglass lens. A substantially transparent matrix may be composed of anysuitable material.

Some optical elements may comprise a transparent matrix of polymer and arhodamine or a rhodamine derivative as a luminescent compound, such asrhodamine 6G, wherein the polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol or aderivative thereof comprising C₁₋₆ ester or C₁₋₆ acetal pendant groups.In some embodiments, a polyvinyl alcohol derivative may comprise repeatunit a, repeat unit b, repeat unit c, or a combination thereof.

With respect to repeat unit a, R^(o) may be H or C₁₋₅ alkyl, such asCH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, C₄H₉, C₅H₁₁, C₃-cycloalkyl, C₄-cycloalkyl,C₅-cycloalkyl, etc. In some embodiments, R^(o) is n-propyl.

With respect to repeat unit c, R^(p) may be H or C₁₋₅ alkyl, such asCH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, C₄H₉, C₅H₁₁, C₃-cycloalkyl, C₄-cycloalkyl,C₅-cycloalkyl, etc. In some embodiments, R^(p) is methyl.

In some embodiments, repeat unit a may be about 70% to about 90% orabout 80% of the weight of the polymer.

In some embodiments, repeat unit b may be about 5% to about 30% or about17% to about 20% of the weight of the polymer.

In some embodiments, repeat unit c may be about 0.01% to about 3% orabout 5% of the weight of the polymer.

Some compositions may include a poly(vinyl butyral-co-vinylalcohol-co-vinyl acetate) (PVBAA), CAS No. 27360-07-2, a polymer whichincludes repeat unit a, repeat unit b, and repeat unit c. In someembodiments the PVBAA has an average molecular weight in a range ofabout 50,000 g/mol to about 1,000,000 g/mol, about 100,000 g/mol toabout 50,000 g/mol, or about 170,000 g/mol to about 250,000 g/mol. Oncecommercially available PVBAA is available from Sigma-Aldrich (Milwaukee,Wis. #418420), which has an average molecular weight of 170,000-250,000g/mol, and includes 0-2.5 wt. % acetate, 17.5-20 wt % hydroxyl, and 80wt % vinyl butyral.

Some compositions may be about 1% (w/w) to about 20%, about 2% (w/w) toabout 10% (w/w), about 4% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w), or about 5% (w/w)rhodamine 6G, and about 80% (w/w) to about 99% (w/w), about 90% (w/w) toabout 99% (w/), about 90% (w/w) to about 95% (w/w), about 94% (w/w) toabout 96% (w/w), or about 95% (w/w) PVBAA. Some compositions may beabout 5% (w/w) rhodamine 6G and about 95% (w/w) PVBAA.

In some embodiments, when the optical element comprises a film, such asa thin film, the thin film can be laminated onto other conventionaloptical equipment, including, but not limited to eyeglasses, contactlenses, goggles, mirrors, LED screens (cellular telephone screens,IPOD's, PDA's, etc.), computer screens and/or windshields. In anembodiment, the substantially transparent matrix material comprises apolycarbonate.

In an embodiment, the optical element comprises a substantiallytransparent matrix material, which can be any material useful in makinga film or lens. A “substantially transparent” material is any materialthat a user can see through. For example, a “substantially transparent”material is capable of transmitting light such that objects or images onthe other side of the material can be seen. A “substantiallytransparent” material can optionally have some degree of shading, andneed not be completely transparent. The transparency can be calculatedby first measuring the total transmittance with a multi-channelphotodetector across the whole visible wavelength range, for example,from about 380 nm to about 780 nm. The transparency percentage can bereported from the arithmetic average of each transmittance percentagevalue recorded at 1 nm wavelength increments from about 380 nm to about780 nm. In such an instance, there would be 400 data points used tocalculate the average. In an embodiment, the optical element has atransparency that is at least about 70%, about 80%, or about 90%.

The substantially transparent matrix material can comprise a compositionthat includes glass or various types of polymers in various combinationsin combination with a luminescent compound. It may be desirable for thematerial to be non-harmful and robust. In an embodiment, thesubstantially transparent matrix material comprises a material,including, but not limited to, glass; a thiourethane; PC; allyl diglycolcarbonate (such as CR-39); a polyacrylate, such as polyacrylic acid,polyalkacrylic acid (including methacrylic acid), esters of apolyacrylic acid or a polyacrylic acid such as methyl, ethyl, propyl,isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, pentyl isomers, hexylisomers, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, or cyclohexyl esters, etc.,2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, and including polyacrylate hydrogels;polyvinylpyrrolidinone; one or more terpolymers ofhexafluoroacetone-tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene (HFA/TFE/E terpolymers),PMMA, PVB, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, apolyimide, a polystyrene, a polyurethane, organosiloxane, a poly(vinylbutyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate, and combinations thereof.

Some optical elements may comprise a substantially transparent componentthat is coated with a substrate layer. The substrate layer may be coatedwith a layer comprising a substantially transparent layer and aluminescent compound dispersed in the transparent layer. A Substratelayer may comprise any suitable polymeric material such as:poly(ethylene teraphthalate) (PET), cellulose triacetate TAC, athiourethane; a polycarbonate (PC); allyl diglycol carbonate (such asCR-39); a polyacrylate, such as polyacrylic acid, polyalkacrylic acid(including methacrylic acid), esters of a polyacrylic acid or apolyacrylic acid such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl,sec-butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, pentyl isomers, hexyl isomers, cyclobutyl,cyclopentyl, or cyclohexyl esters, etc., 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, andincluding polyacrylate hydrogels; polyvinylpyrrolidinone; one or moreterpolymers of hexafluoroacetone-tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene (HFA/TFE/Eterpolymers), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a polyvinyl butyral (PVB),ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, a polyimide, apolystyrene, a polyurethane, organosiloxane, a poly(vinylbutyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate, and combinations thereof.

For devices in the form of eyewear such as glasses or sunglasses, a lensor optical element may be composed of any optically suitable plastic, orthey may be composed primarily of glass, or other vitreous material.Included among the suitable optical plastics are thermoplastic syntheticresins, including poly(diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate));polyurethane comprising a diethylene glycol polyol; thiourethane resinsfrom isocyanate and polythiol; acrylates such as polymers of C₁₋₆ alkylesters of methacrylic acid (including methyl methacrylate, ethylmethacrylate, propyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, etc.), C₁₋₆ alkylesters of acrylic acid (including methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate,propyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, etc.), and related acrylic resins;polystyrenes, including polystyrene homopolymers, as well as copolymersof styrene and acrylonitrite, polybutadiene-modified polystyrene, etc.;polycarbonates; vinyl resins such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride,polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, etc.; ionomersand monochlorotrifluoroethylene resins; cellulose derivatives, includingcellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetatebutyrate, etc; epoxies; polyester resins; etc.

For devices in the form of an ocular lens, such as a soft contact lens,a hard contact lens, or an intraocular lens (referred to collectivelyherein as “ocular lens”), matrix materials of a lens or an opticalelement may include an ocular polymer.

For a softer ocular lens, such as a soft contact lens, a soft monomermay be incorporated into an ocular polymer. For harder lenses, such ashard contact lenses, a hard monomer may be incorporated into an ocularpolymer. Many ocular lenses may incorporate, or may be a reactionproduct of a mixture comprising, a combination of soft and hardmonomers. In some embodiments, an ocular lens may comprise an ocularpolymer that is a product of a reaction of a mixture comprising a softand/or a hard monomer, and may optionally further comprise across-linking agent, other polymerizable monomers, an initiator, and/orother materials.

Soft monomers may include hydrogel forming monomers, or monomers thatform hydrogel polymers. Hydrogel polymers include polymeric systems thatcan absorb and retain water in an equilibrium state. Hydrogel polymersmay incorporate hydrogel forming monomers including hydrophilicacrylates, such as hydroxyalkyl acrylates, hydroxyl alkyl methacrylates,acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, etc.; vinyl lactams, includingoptionally substituted N-vinylpyrrolidones, such as unsubstituted1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone; acrylamides, such as methacrylamide andN,N-dimethylacrylamide; etc. Some hydrogel polymers may be a reactionproduct of polymerization reaction comprising an optional cross-linkingagent and: 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), HEMA and methacrylicacid; HEMA and 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone; HEMA and 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinoneand methacrylic acid; HEMA and 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone and methylmethacrylate; HEMA and N-(1,1-dimethyl-3-oxobutyl) acrylamide; or1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone and methyl methacrylate and allyl methacrylate.

Hard monomers include acrylate monomers that lack hydrophilic functionalgroups other than the CO₂ group of the ester, such as alkyl acrylatemonomers or alkyl methacrylate monomers. Other hard monomers may includecellulose derivatives, such as cellulose acetate butyrate, and styrenes.

Hard alkyl acrylate monomers may include alkyl esters of acrylic acid,such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, butylacrylate, pentyl acrylate, hexyl acrylate, heptyl acrylate, isobutylacrylate, n-pentyl acrylate, tert-pentyl acrylate, hexyl acrylate,2-methylbutyl acrylate, heptyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexylacrylate, nonyl acrylate, decyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate, stearylacrylate, cyclopentyl acrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate, etc. Alkylmethacrylate monomers may include alkyl esters of methacrylic acid, suchas methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, butylmethacrylate, pentyl methacrylate, hexyl methacrylate, heptylmethacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, n-pentyl methacrylate, tert-pentylmethacrylate, hexyl methacrylate, 2-methylbutyl methacrylate, heptylmethacrylate, octyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, nonylmethacrylate, decyl methacrylate, dodecyl methacrylate, stearylmethacrylate, cyclopentyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate,isopropyl methacrylate, s-butyl methacrylate, t-butyl methacrylate,3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl methacrylate t-butyl acrylate, etc. In somealkyl acrylates or alkyl methacrylates, the alkyl group of the alkylester may contain 1, 2, 3, or 4 carbon atoms. Some ocular lens polymersare products of a polymerization reaction comprising methyl acrylate,ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate,ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, or butyl methacrylate.

For some ocular lenses, repeating units derived from an alkyl acrylateand/or an alkyl methacrylate are at least about 10%, about 20%, about30%, and may be up to about 90%, about 95%, about 99%, or may approachabout 100% of the weight of an ocular polymer.

Other hard acrylate monomers may include phenyl methacrylate,tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate, allylmethacrylate, etc.

Examples of a cross-linking agent may include: ethyleneglycoldiacrylate, butanediol diacrylate, hexanediol diacrylate, hexanedioldimethacrylate, diethyleneglycol diacrylate, triethyleneglycoldiacrylate, propyleneglycol diacrylate, dipropyleneglycol diacrylate,divinylbenzene, allyl acrylate, vinyl acrylate, trimethylolpropanetriacrylate, acryloyloxyethyl acrylate, diallyl fumarate, diallylphthalate, diallyl adipate, divinyl adipate, α-methylene-N-vinylpyrrolidone, 4-vinylbenzyl acrylate, 3-vinylbenzyl acrylate,2,2-bis(acryloyloxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane,2,2-bis(acryloyloxyphenyl)propane,1,2-bis(2-(acryloyloxyhexafluoroisopropyl)benzene,1,3-bis(2-(acryloyloxyhexafluoroisopropyl)benzene,1,4-bis(2-(acryloyloxyhexafluoroisopropyl)benzene,1,2-bis(2-(acryloyloxyisopropyl)benzene,1,3-bis(2-(acryloyloxyisopropyl)benzene,1,4-bis(2-(acryloyloxyisopropyl)benzene, ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate,butanediol dimethacrylate, diethyleneglycol dimethacrylate,triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, propyleneglycol dimethacrylate,dipropyleneglycol dimethacrylate, divinylbenzene, allyl methacrylate,vinyl methacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate,methacryloyloxyethyl methacrylate, 4-vinylbenzyl methacrylate,3-vinylbenzyl methacrylate,2,2-bis(methacryloyloxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane,2,2-bis(methacryloyloxyphenyl)propane,1,2-bis(2-(methacryloyloxyhexafluoroisopropyl)benzene,1,3-bis(2-(methacryloyloxyhexafluoroisopropyl)benzene,1,4-bis(2-(methacryloyloxyhexafluoroisopropyl)benzene,1,2-bis(2-(methacryloyloxyisopropyl)benzene,1,3-bis(2-(methacryloyloxyisopropyl)benzene,1,4-bis(2-(methacryloyloxyisopropyl)benzene, N,N′-bis-acryloylcystamine,N,N′-bis-methacryloylcystamine, methylene bis-acrylamide, or methylenebis-methacryloylcystamine. Some acrylic polymers are a product of apolymerization reaction of a mixture that includes ethyleneglycoldiacrylate, butanediol diacrylate, 4-vinylbenzyl methacrylate,ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, butanediol dimethacrylate, and/or4-vinylbenzyl methacrylate as a crosslinker. For some acrylic polymers,the cross-linking agent is about 0.001% to 15% by weight or about 0.1%to 10% of the weight of a polymerization reaction mixture. In someembodiments, excessive use of a cross-linking agent may cause an ocularlens to be fragile.

One or more additional polymerizable monomers may optionally be added toa polymerization reaction mixture. In some embodiments, polymerizablemonomers that are not acrylate monomers may be less than about 90% byweight, about 80% by weight, about 50% by weight, about 30% by weight,about 20% by weight, about 10% by weight, or about 5% by weight of thepolymerization reaction mixture.

A specific example of a hydrogel-forming monomer mixture is polymacon,composed primarily of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate with a small amount ofdiethyleneglycol dimethacrylate as a crosslinking monomer.

Examples of additional polymerizable monomers may include asilicon-containing methacrylate monomer, a derivative of asilicon-containing styrene, a derivative of a fluorine-containingstyrene, a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer, a silicon-containingmacromonomer, etc. These types of polymerizable monomers may improveoxygen transmission and/or contamination resistance in an ocularpolymer. A styrene may be added to improve the mechanical strength andhardness of an ophthalmic lens such as an ocular lens.

Silicon-containing acrylate monomers may include,pentamethyldisiloxanylmethyl acrylate, pentamethyldisiloxanylpropylacrylate, methylbis(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropyl acrylate,tris(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropyl acrylate,mono[methyl-bis(trimethylsiloxy)siloxy]bis(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropylacrylate, tris[methyl-bis(trimethylsiloxy)siloxy]silylpropyl acrylate,methyl-bis(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropylglycerol acrylate,tris(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropylglycerol acrylate,mono[methyl-bis(trimethylsiloxy)siloxy]bis(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropylglycerolacrylate, trimethylsilylethyltetramethyldisiloxanylpropylglycerolacrylate, trimethylsilylmethyl acrylate, trimethylsilylpropyl acrylate,trimethylsilylpropylglycerol acrylate, pentamethyldisiloxanylpropylglycerol acrylate,methylbis(trimethylsiloxy)silylethyltetramethyldisiloxanylmethylacrylate, tetramethyltriisopropylcyclotetrasiloxanylpropyl acrylate,tetramethyltriisopropylcyclotetrasiloxybis(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropylacrylate pentamethyldisiloxanylmethyl methacrylate,pentamethyldisiloxanylpropyl methacrylate,methylbis(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropyl methacrylate,tris(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropyl methacrylate,mono[methyl-bis(trimethylsiloxy)siloxy]bis(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropylmethacrylate, tris[methyl-bis(trimethylsiloxy)siloxy]silylpropylmethacrylate, methyl-bis(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropylglycerolmethacrylate, tris(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropylglycerol methacrylate,mono[methyl-bis(trimethylsiloxy)siloxy]bis(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropylglycerolmethacrylate, trimethylsilylethyltetramethyldisiloxanylpropylglycerolmethacrylate, trimethylsilylmethyl methacrylate, trimethylsilylpropylmethacrylate, trimethylsilylpropylglycerol methacrylate,pentamethyldisiloxanyl propylglycerol methacrylate,methylbis(trimethylsiloxy)silylethyltetramethyldisiloxanylmethylmethacrylate, tetramethyltriisopropylcyclotetrasiloxanylpropylmethacrylate,tetramethyltriisopropylcyclotetrasiloxybis(trimethylsiloxy)silylpropylmethacrylate, etc.

Examples of silicon-containing derivatives of a styrene may includetrimethylsilylstyrene, tris(trimethylsiloxy)silylstyrene, etc.

A silicon-containing macromonomer includes a macromonomer containingsilicon (Si), such as a polysiloxane macro, having polymerzible groupsat both ends of a polysiloxane macromer, bonded to a vinyl-containingmonomer by an urethane bond.

Some polymerization reaction mixtures may include a silicone-containingmonomer which may react in the polymerization mixture to form a siliconehydrogel copolymer. Examples of silicone-containing monomers include:monomers including a single activated double bond, such asmethacryloxypropyl tris(trimethylsiloxy)silane, pentamethyldisiloxanylmethylmethacrylate, tris(trimethylsiloxy)methacryloxy propylsilane,methyldi(trimethylsiloxy)methacryloxymethyl silane,3-[tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl]propyl vinyl carbamate, and3-[tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl]propyl vinyl carbonate; andmultifunctional ethylenically “end-capped” siloxane-containing monomers,especially difunctional monomers having two activated double bonds.

Examples of fluorine-containing derivatives of a styrene may includeo-fluorostyrene, m-fluorostyrene, p-fluorostyrene, trifluorostyrene,perfluorostyrene, p-trifluoromethylstyrene, o-trifluoromethylstyrene,and m-trifluoromethylstyrene, etc.

Examples of fluorine-containing acrylate monomers include,2,2,2-trifluoroethyl acrylate, 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl acrylate,2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl acrylate,2,2,2-trifluoro-1-trifluoromethylethyl acrylate,2,2,3,3-tetrafluoro-tert-pentyl acrylate, 2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutylacrylate, 2,2,3,3,4,4-hexafluorobutyl acrylate,2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluoro-tert-hexyl acrylate,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutyl acrylate,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl acrylate,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6-octafluorohexyl acrylate,2,3,4,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)pentyl acrylate,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,5-nonafluoropentyl acrylate,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7-dodecafluoroheptyl acrylate,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8-dodecafluorooctyl acrylate,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctyl acrylate,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,7-tridecafluoroheptyl acrylate,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10-hexadecafluorodecyl acrylate,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,10-heptadecafluorodecyl acrylate,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11-octadecafluoroundecyl acrylate,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11,11-nonadecafluoroundecylacrylate,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11,12,12-eicosafluorododecylacrylate, 2-hydroxy-4,4,5,5,6,7,7,7-octafluoro-6-trifluoromethylheptylacrylate,2-hydroxy-4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,9,9,9-dodecafluoro-8-trifluoromethylnonylacrylate, and2-hydroxy-4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,11,11,11-hexadecafluoro-10-trifluoro-methylundecylacrylate, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate, 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropylmethacrylate, 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl methacrylate,2,2,2-trifluoro-1-trifluoromethylethyl meth acrylate,2,2,3,3-tetrafluoro-tert-pentyl methacrylate,2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate, 2,2,3,3,4,4-hexafluorobutylmethacrylate, 2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluoro-tert-hexyl methacrylate,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutyl methacrylate,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl methacrylate,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6-octafluorohexyl methacrylate,2,3,4,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)pentyl methacrylate,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,5-nonafluoropentyl methacrylate,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7-dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8-dodecafluorooctyl methacrylate,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctyl methacrylate,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,7-tridecafluoroheptyl methacrylate,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10-hexadecafluorodecyl methacrylate,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,10-heptadecafluorodecyl methacrylate,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11-octadecafluoroundecylmethacrylate,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11,11-nonadecafluoroundecylmethacrylate,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11,12,12-eicosafluorododecylmethacrylate,2-hydroxy-4,4,5,5,6,7,7,7-octafluoro-6-trifluoromethylheptylmethacrylate,2-hydroxy-4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,9,9,9-dodecafluoro-8-trifluoromethylnonylmethacrylate, and2-hydroxy-4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,11,11,11-hexadecafluoro-10-trifluoro-methylundecylmethacrylate, etc.

Examples of a styrene include unsubstituted styrene, o-methylstyrene,m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, p-ethylstyrene, o-hydroxystyrene,m-hydroxystyrene, p-hydroxystyrene, trimethylstyrene, tert-butylstyrene,perbromostyrene, dimethylaminostyrene, α-methylstyrene, etc.

Polymerization of a reaction mixture may be accomplished by a heatpolymerization. For example, a polymerization reaction mixture may beheated to an elevated temperature, such as about 50° C. to about 300°C., about 100° C. to about 200° C., or about 100° C. to about 150° C.when a polymerization initiator is present in a polymerization reactionmixture. Heat polymerization may reduce discoloration or fading afterthe polymerization as compared to other polymerization methods.Alternatively, a polymerization reaction may be photopolymerized, suchas by exposure to an electromagnetic radiation such as microwave, anultraviolet radiation, a radiant ray (γ-ray), etc.

A polymerization initiator may be selected based on the method ofpolymerization to be employed. For example, if the heat polymerizationis employed, a radical polymerization initiator may be used. If apolymerization is achieved by the exposure to the electromagneticradiation, a photopolymerization initiator or a photosensitizer may beused. Polymerization may also be initiated by a base or an acidcatalyst, or by an electrophilic agent or a nucleophilic agent.

Any suitable radical polymerization initiator may be used. Examples ofradical polymerization initiators may include azobisisobutyronitrile,azobis-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile, benzoyl peroxide, dibenzoyl peroxide,benzoin methyl ether, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide,etc.

Any suitable photopolymerization initiator may be used in aphotopolymerization reaction of a polymerization reaction mixture.Examples of photopolymerization initiators include: benzoin basedphotopolymerization initiators such as methylorthobenzoylbenzoate,methylbenzoylformate, benzoinmethylether, benzomethylether,benzoinisopropylether, benzoinisobutylether, benzoin-n-butylether, etc.;phenone photopolymerization initiators such as2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropane-1-one,p-isopropyl-α-hydroxyisobutylphenone, p-tert-butyltrichloroacetophenone,2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, α,α-dichloro-4-phenoxyacetophenone,N,N-tetraethyl-4,4-diaminobenzophenone, etc.;1-hydroxycyclohexylphenylketone;1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione-2-(o-ethoxycarbonyl)oxime; thioxanthonephotopolymerization initiator such as 2-chlorothioxanthone,2-methylthioxanthone etc.; dibenzosuberone; 2-ethylanthraquinone;benzophenoneacrylate; benzophenone; benzyl; etc.

Any suitable amount of polymerization initiator may be used, such as atleast about 0.005 parts by weight or at least about 0.01 parts by weightper 100 parts by weight of a polymer reaction mixture. In someembodiments, the amount of polymerization initiator may be less thanabout 2 parts by weight, or 1 part by weight per 100 parts by weight ofa polymerization reaction mixture.

Any of a number of methods may be used to form an ocular lens. Forexample, a cutting method may be used. In a cutting method, a polymermay be formed into a desired configuration by a mechanical processingmethod such as cutting, grinding, etc. An ocular lens may also be formedusing a molding method. In a molding method, a polymerization reactionmixture may be placed into a mold cavity, and a desired shape may beobtained by reaction of the polymerization reaction mixture in the moldcavity. Other forming methods may also be used. Additionally, moldingand cutting methods may be combined.

A luminescent compound may be incorporated into an ocular polymer whencasting a lens, or a finished lens can treated with a luminescentcompound, such as by soaking in or coating with solution containing aluminescent compound.

Optionally, a mixture of monomers to be polymerized into a hydrogelcopolymer may include a silicone-containing monomer in order to form asilicone hydrogel copolymer. Examples of silicone-containing monomersinclude: monomers including a single activated double bond, such asmethacryloxypropyl tris(trimethylsiloxy)silane, pentamethyldisiloxanylmethylmethacrylate, tris(trimethylsiloxy)methacryloxy propylsilane,methyldi(trimethylsiloxy)methacryloxymethyl silane,3-[tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl]propyl vinyl carbamate, and3-[tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl]propyl vinyl carbonate; andmultifunctional ethylenically “end-capped” siloxane-containing monomers,especially difunctional monomers having two activated double bonds.

In some embodiments, an optical element of a device may comprise acoating, such as a scratch resistant coating, wherein a substantiallytransparent matrix comprises a scratch resistant material, and aluminescent material may be dispersed in the scratch resistant material.Examples of a scratch resistant material such as cellulose acetatebutyrate, cellulose nitrate, cellulose triacetate, a hard acrylate (suchas a hard acrylate described above), a polyalkylene such as polyethyleneor polypropylene, poly(acrylonitrile), poly(vinyl acetate), poly(vinylchloride), an optionally substituted polystyrene, polybutadiene, nylon,a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, a polycarbonate, astyrene-butadiene copolymer resin, a polyurethane, such as a lightlycross-linked thermoplastic polyurethane, a polyurea urethane, apolysiloxane, a polysilane, a fluoropolymer such as a polymer orcopolymer of fluoroethylene, difluoroethylene, trifluoroethylene,tetrafluoroethylene (e.g. poly(tetrafluoroethylene)), an epoxyfunctional alkoxy silane, an silicon oxynitride PECVD film, a metaloxide, etc.

Any suitable polycarbonate may be used, such as a homo polycarbonate, aco-polycarbonate, a branched polycarbonate, or a mixture thereof. Somepolycarbonates may be prepared by reaction of a carbonic acidderivative, such as phosgene, and a dihydroxy compound. Useful dihydroxycompounds include bisphenol compounds which may be represented byFormula S:

R^(A1) may be H, or C₁₋₁₂ alkyl, including: linear or branched alkylhaving a formula C_(a)H_(a+1) or C_(a)H_(a), or cycloalkyl having aformula C_(a)H_(a−1) or C_(a)H_(a−2), wherein a is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, or 12, such as linear or branched alkyl of a formula: CH₃,C₂H₅, C₃H₇, C₄H₉, C₅H₁₁, C₆H₁₃, C₇H₁₅, C₈H₁₇, C₉H₁₉, C₁₀H₂₁, etc., orcycloalkyl of a formula: C₃H₅, C₄H₇, C₅H₉, C₆H₁₁, C₇H₁₃, C₈H₁₅, C₉H₁₇,C₁₀H₁₉, etc.

R^(A2) may be H, or C₁₋₁₂ alkyl, including: linear or branched alkylhaving a formula C_(a)H_(a+1) or C_(a)H_(a), or cycloalkyl having aformula C_(a)H_(a−1) or C_(a)H_(a−2), wherein a is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, or 12, such as linear or branched alkyl of a formula: CH₃,C₂H₅, C₃H₇, C₄H₉, C₅H₁₁, C₆H₁₃, C₇H₁₅, C₈H₁₇, C₉H₁₉, C₁₀H₂₁, etc., orcycloalkyl of a formula: C₃H₅, C₄H₇, C₅H₉, C₆H₁₁, C₇H₁₃, C₈H₁₅, C₉H₁₇,C₁₀H₁₉, etc.

In some embodiments R^(A1) and R^(A2) are hydrogen, methyl, propyl, orphenyl, or

In some embodiments R^(A1) and R^(A2) are methyl. A polycarbonate mayhave any suitable molecular weight. In some embodiments a polycarbonatemay have a molecular weight of about 10,000 g/mol to about 200,000 g/molor about 20,000 g/mol to about 80,000 g/mol.

Generally, a polyurethane includes a polymer that may be formed byreaction of a polyisocyanate and a polyol. A polyurea urethane includesa polymer that may be formed by reaction of a polyisocyanate, a polyol,and a polyamine.

Polyisocyanates include organic isocyanates having 2 or more isocyanatefunctional groups. Some polyisocyanates may have, on average, about 2 toabout 3 isocyanate functional groups per molecule. A polyisocyanate maybe an aliphatic polyisocyanate, a cycloaliphatic polyisocyanate whereinone or more of the isocyanato groups are attached directly to thecycloaliphatic ring, a cycloaliphatic polyisocyanate wherein one or moreof the isocyanato groups are not attached directly to the cycloaliphaticring, an aromatic polyisocyanate wherein one or more of the isocyanatogroups are attached directly to the aromatic ring, and aromaticpolyisocyanates wherein one or more of the isocyanato groups are notattached directly to the aromatic ring, or a mixture thereof.Non-limiting examples of suitable polyisocyanates includetetramethylene-1,4-diisocyanate, hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate,2,2,4-trimethylhexane-1,6-diisocyanate, cyclobutane-1,3-diisocyanate,cyclohexane-1,3-diisocyanate, cyclohexane-1,4-diisocyanate, methylcyclohexyl diisocyanate, e.g., 2,4- and 2,6-methyl cyclohexyldiisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, the isomers and mixtures ofisomers of 4,4′-methylene-bis(cyclohexyl isocyanate), e.g., thetrans-trans, cis-cis and cis-trans isomers,hexahydrotoluene-2,4-diisocyanate, hexahydrotoluene-2,6-diisocyanate,hexahydrophenylene-1,3-diisocyanate,hexahydrophenylene-1,4-diisocyanate,hexahydrophenylene-1,4-diisocyanate, phenyl cyclohexylmethanediisocyanate, etc.

A polyamine may be any compound comprising two or more primary (e.g.—NH₂) and/or secondary amino functional groups, such as 2 primary aminofunctional groups, 2 secondary amino functional groups, or 1 primaryamino functional group and 1 secondary amino functional group. Someexamples of suitable polyamines include aliphatic polyamines such asaliphatic diamines having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, e.g. 1,2-ethanediamine, 1,3-propane diamine, 1,4-butane diamine, 1,5-pentane diamine,1,6-hexane diamine, 1,8-octane diamine, and 1,10-decane diamine, etc.;cycloaliphatic polyamines; aromatic polyamines, such as 1,2-benzenediamine, 1,3-benzene diamine, 1,4-benzene diamine, 1,5-naphthalenediamine, 1,8-naphthalene diamine, 2,4-toluene diamine, 2,5-toluenediamine, 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-biphenyldiamine, 4,4′-methylenebis(aniline), 4,4′-methylene bis(2-chloroaniline); dialkyl toluenediamines in which the alkyl groups each contain from 1 to 3 carbonatoms, such as 3,5-dimethyl-2,4-toluene diamine,3,5-dimethyl-2,6-toluene diamine, 3,5-diethyl-2,4-toluene diamine,3,5-diethyl-2,6-toluene diamine, 3,5-diisopropyl-2,4-toluene diamine,3,5-diisopropyl-2,6-toluene diamine, etc.;4,4′-methylene-bis(dialkylaniline) in which the alkyl groups eachcontain from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, such as 4,4′-methylenebis(2,6-dimethylaniline), 4,4′-methylene bis(2,6-diethylaniline),4,4′-methylene bis(2-ethyl-6-methylaniline), 4,4′-methylenebis(2,6-diisopropylaniline), 4,4′-methylenebis(2-isopropyl-6-methylaniline) and 4,4′-methylenebis(2,6-diethyl-3-chloroaniline), etc. Dialkyl toluene diamines may besold as isomeric mixtures, e.g., an isomeric mixture of3,5-diethyl-2,4-toluene diamine and 3,5-diethyl-2,6-toluene diamine.Polyamines may also contain more than two amino groups, such asdiethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, and tetraethylenepentamine.

A polyurethane or a polyurea urethane may be a polyether-basedpolyurethane or polyurea urethane, a polycarbonate-based polyurethane orpolyurea urethane, or a polyester-based polyurethane or polyureaurethane, referring to the type of polyol used to form the polyurethaneor polyurea urethane.

Examples of polyether polyols include, but are not limited to,polyoxyalkylene polyols, and polyalkoxylated polyols. Polyoxyalkylenepolyols include polyols that may be prepared by reacting an alkyleneoxide, or a mixture of alkylene oxides, using with a polyhydricinitiator or a mixture of polyhydric initiators, such as ethyleneglycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, sorbitol and the like. Examples ofalkylene oxides include ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide,amylene oxide, aralkylene oxides, e.g., styrene oxide, mixtures ofethylene oxide and propylene oxide, etc. Polyoxyalkylene polyolsprepared with mixtures of alkylene oxide can be prepared using random orstep-wise oxyalkylation. Examples of such polyoxyalkylene polyolsinclude polyoxyethylene, e.g., polyethylene glycol, polyoxypropylene,e.g., polypropylene glycol. Polyalkoxylated polyols include polyols thatmay be prepared by reacting a diol such as a C₁₋₈ alkylene diol, adihydroxybenzene, etc., with an alkylene oxide such as ethylene oxide,propylene oxide, butylene oxide, etc.

A polyether polyol may have any suitable molecular weight. For example,some polyether polyols may have a weight average molecular weight ofabout 500 g/mol to about 3000 g/mol, about 650 g/mol to about 2000g/mol, about 650 g/mol to about 1400 g/mol, about 850 g/mol to about1000 g/mol, or about 1200 g/mol.

Polycarbonate polyols include polyols that may be prepared by reactionof an organic glycol, e.g., a diol, such a glycol, and a dialkylcarbonate. Some polycarbonate polyols may be represented by a formulaH—(O—C(O)—O—(CH₂)_(m))_(n)—OH, wherein m is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or10, and n is 4 to 24, 4 to 10, or 5 to 7. In some embodiments, a dialkylcarbonate is a polyhexamethylene carbonate, where m is 6. Apolycarbonate polyol may have any suitable molecular weight, such as anumber average molecular weight of about 500 g/mol to 3500 g/mol orabout 650 g/mol to about 1000 g/mol.

A glycol includes low molecular weight polyols, e.g., polyols having amolecular weight of less than 500 g/mol, such as low molecular weightdiols and triols. Some glycols contain 2 to 16, 2 to 6, or 10 carbonatoms. Non-limiting examples of glycols include: ethylene glycol,propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethyleneglycol, dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, 1,2-, 1,3- and1,4-butanediol, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol,2-methyl-1,3-pentanediol, 1,3-, 2,4- and 1,5-pentanediol, 2,5- and1,6-hexanediol, 2,4-heptanediol, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol,2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 1,9-nonanediol,1,10-decanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol,1,2-bis(hydroxyethyl)-cyclohexane, glycerin, tetramethylolmethane, e.g.,pentaerythritol, trimethylolethane, and trimethylolpropane. Otherisomers of these glycols may also be used. The amount of glycol used inrelation to a polyether polyol and/or polycarbonate polyol component mayvary from 3 to 20 weight percent.

Polyester polyols include polyols that may be prepared by esterificationof saturated dicarboxylic acids or anhydrides thereof (or combinationsof acids and anhydrides) with polyhydric alcohols; polylactones, e.g.,polycaprolactone and polyvalerolactone, which may be prepared bypolymerizing a lactone, such as epsilon caprolactone ordelta-valerolactone, in the presence of minor amounts of difunctionalactive hydrogen compounds, such as water or a low molecular glycol,e.g., 1,4-butane diol.

Saturated dicarboxylic acids include those containing from 4 to 10carbon atoms or 6 to 9 carbon atoms, such as succinic acid, glutaricacid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacicacid, etc.

Polyhydric alcohols include aliphatic alcohols containing at least twohydroxy groups, e.g., straight chain glycols containing from 2 to 10 or4 to 8 carbon atoms. Non-limiting examples include the glycols describedabove. In some embodiments, a polyhydric alcohol is 1,4-butane diol.

A polyester polyol may have any suitable molecular weight, such as anumber average molecular weight of about 1000 g/mol to about 3000 g/molor about 1000 g/mol to about 2000 g/mol. Non-limiting examples ofpolyester polyols include poly(butane diol-1,4-adipate), poly(butanediol-1,4-succinate), poly(butane diol-1,4-glutarate), poly(butanediol-1,4-pimelate), poly(butane diol-1,4-suberate), poly(butanediol-1,4-azelate), poly(butane diol-1,4-sebacate) and poly(epsiloncaprolactone).

A scratch resistant coating may include from 0 to 20 weight percent orabout 1 to about 90 weight percent based on the total weight of thecomposition, of a metal oxide such as silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide,antimony oxide, tin oxide, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, etc., or amixture thereof.

A scratch resistant coating have any suitable thickness, such as athickness of about 1 mil to about 20 mils (about 0.025 mm to about 0.5mm) or about 5 mil to about 10 mils (about 0.125 mm to about 0.25 mm). Ascratch resistant coating may be directly applied to another material,or may be applied using an adhesive layer, such as a substantiallytransparent layer having a thickness less than 25 microns, about 0.1micron to about 10 microns, about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns, orabout 1 micron.

The resistance of a coating to scratching may be measured by the rotarysteel wool test, which involves subjecting the coating to fiverevolutions of a pad of 0000 grade steel wool at a defined pressure,usually 12 or 24 psi. The scratching abrasion resistance is rated bymeasuring the increase in haze from the abrasion. Test methods such asASTM D-1044 have been developed for optically measuring the resistanceof transparent plastic materials to abrasion. Other standard tests forabrasion resistance are the Taber abrasion test described in ASTMD-1004-56.

In many applications, toughness and resistance to impact may beimportant for a scratch resistant coating. The toughness or impactabrasion resistance of a coating is commonly measured by the “fallingsand” test (ASTM D968-51). A coating which has good scratch abrasionresistance may not necessarily have good impact abrasion resistance.With the falling sand test, sand is poured onto a coating from apredetermined height, while the thickness of the coating is observed.The results are expressed in terms of the number of liters of sandrequired to abrade away one tenth of a mil of the coating thickness.

An optical element may be integrated into an electronic device thatcomprises an electronic display, an optical element, and a touch screencomponent. An example of such a device 10 is depicted in FIG. 2. In thistype of device, touch screen component 30 may be disposed overelectronic display 20. Optical element 15 is also included. Opticalelement 15 may be disposed over touch screen component 30, as shown inFIG. 2, or optical element 15 may be disposed between electronic display20 and touch screen component 30, as shown in FIG. 3, or in anotherposition that allows light from electronic display 20 to pass throughoptical element 15. Touch screen element 30 comprises first conductivelayer 40, second conductive layer 50, and spacer 60 disposed betweenfirst conductive layer 40 and second conductive layer 50. As shown inFIG. 2A, when there is no contact between a user and device 10, there isno electrical contact between first conductive layer 40 and secondconductive layer 50. As shown in FIG. 2B, contact 80 by a user can causefirst conductive layer 40 to contact second conductive layer 50, whichmay create electrical contact between first conductive layer 40 andsecond conductive layer 50. This may allow current to flow between firstconductive layer 40 and second conductive layer 50. Thus, the touchscreen component may act as an on/off switch that is sensitive to auser's touch. Light 70 emitted from display 20 passes through touchscreen component 30 and passes through optical element 15. Opticalelement 30 may modify a color of light 70 from display 20.

As depicted in FIG. 4, a touch screen component, e.g. touch screencomponent 30, may further comprise a first support layer, such as firstsupport layer 90. First support layer 90 may be positioned so that firstconductive layer 40 is disposed between spacer 60 and first supportlayer 90. Additionally a touch screen component may further comprise asecond support layer, e.g. second support layer 100. Second supportlayer 100 may be positioned so that second conductive layer 50 isdisposed between spacer 60 and second support layer 100. As depicted inFIG. 5, a touch screen component may also comprise a first dielectriclayer, such as first dielectric layer 110, which may be disposed betweenfirst conductive layer 40 and first support layer 90. Touch screencomponent 30 may also comprise a second dielectric layer, such as seconddielectric layer 120, which may be disposed between second conductivelayer 50 and second support layer 100.

A touch screen element, such as touch screen element 30, should besufficiently transparent for a display, such as display 20, to be viewedthrough the touch screen element.

A conductive layer, such as first conductive layer 40 or secondconductive layer 50, may be composed of any conductive material. A firstconductive layer and a second conductive layer may be composed of thesame material, or may be composed of different material. Examples ofconductive materials that may be used include, but are not limited to,metals such as gold, silver, platinum, palladium, copper, aluminum,nickel, chromium, titanium, iron, cobalt, tin etc., and alloys of these;metal oxides, such as indium oxide, tin oxide, titanium oxide, cadmiumoxide, and mixtures of these. Other metal compounds, such as copperiodine, may also be used. In some embodiments, a conductive layercomprises indium oxide containing tin oxide, or tin oxide containingantimony. A conductive layer may have any thickness that allows the filmto be sufficiently conductive and sufficiently transparent, such asabout 10 nm to about 300 nm.

A spacer, e.g. spacer 60, may be a vacuum, or may be composed of anynonconductive material, such as air, nitrogen, argon, or another inertgas. A spacer may be of any suitable thickness, such as in about 10 μmto about 500 μm, about 100 μm to about 200 μm, or about 150 μm.

A support layer may be any layer that facilitates the desired functionof a conductive layer. A first support layer, e.g. first support layer90 and a second support later, e.g. second support layer 100, may be thesame or different, and make may be composed of the same or differentmaterials. Examples of suitable support materials include but are notlimited to polyester-based resins, acetate-based resins,polyethersulfone-based resins, polycarbonate-based resins,polyamide-based resins, polyimide-based resins, polyolefin-based resins,acrylate-based resins, polyvinyl chloride-based resins,polystyrene-based resins, polyvinyl alcohol-based resins, poly phenylenesulfide-based resins, polyvinylidene chloride-based resins, etc. In someembodiments a support layer comprises a polyester-based resin, apolycarbonate-based resin, or a polyolefin-based resin. A support latermay have any suitable thickness, such as about 75 μm to about 400 μm,about 100 μm to about 200 μm, about 2 μm to about 300 μm, or about 10 μmto about 130 μm.

A dielectric layer may be composed of any dielectric material. A firstdielectric layer, e.g. first dielectric layer 110, and a seconddielectric layer, e.g. second dielectric layer 120, may be the same ordifferent, and may be composed of the same or different materials.Non-limiting examples include NaF, Na₃AlF₆, LiF, MgF₂, CaF₂, BaF₂, SiO₂,LaF₃, CeF₃, Al₂O₃, etc. A dielectric layer may have any suitablethickness, such as about 10 nm to about 300 nm, about 10 nm to about 200nm, about 10 nm to about 120 nm, or about 15 nm to about 60 nm.

The optical elements described herein are useful in methods forcorrecting visual insensitivity in a mammal. In an embodiment, themethod comprises identifying an individual having a visual insensitivitybetween a first visible color wavelength and a second visible colorwavelength. In an embodiment, the method comprises selecting an opticalelement as described herein that corrects the visual insensitivity. Inan embodiment, the method comprises providing or arranging to providethe optical element to the individual. In an embodiment, the visualinsensitivity comprises deuteranomaly.

In one embodiment, identifying an individual having a visualinsensititivity between a first visible color wavelength and a secondvisible color wavelength includes genotype determination. For example,identifying an individual having a visual insensitivity can includeusing a sampling kit having at least a medical subject sampling swabused in conjunction with amino acid sequencing. Comparison tostandardized sequence listings (Neitz, Jay, et al, The genetics ofnormal and defective color vision, Vision Res. 51 (2011):633-651; Neitz,Maureen, et al, Molecular Genetics of Color Vision and Color VisionDefects, Arch Ophthalmol 118:691-700 (2000)) can provide the geneotypicinformation regarding the conformity or non-conformity of the subject'samino acid sequence with normal or dysfunctional sequences. Any suitablesequencing procedure and determination is appropriate to make suchdetermination, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,461, which isincorporated by reference in its entirety. The diagnosis ofcone-photoreceptor-based vision disorders by these methods can involvethe use of standard molecular biology methods, including the polymerasechain reaction (PCR), to examine the identities of all or a subset of atleast 18 dimorphic nucleotide positions among the red and greenphotopigment genes. The pattern of nucleotide differences predicts thepresence or absence of vision disorder. Different patterns of nucleotideidentities correspond to different disorders and different degrees ofseverity within one class of disorder.

In one exemplary method, the test determines the amino acids specifiedat positions 65, 111, and 116 in exon 2; 153, 171, 174, 178, and 180 inexon 3; 230, 233, and 236 in exon 4; and 274, 275, 277, 279, 285, 298,or 309 in exon 5 of the red and green cone photopigments and to look for“poison” combinations of amino acids at these positions in the diagnosisof vision disorders. One might not have to examine all 18 dimorphicpositions to make a diagnosis. For example, because the dimorphicpositions in exon 5 are tightly linked, one typically only has toexamine one of the codon positions within exon 5 to make an initialidentification of the gene as encoding either a red or green conephotopigment. The dimorphic positions encoded in exons 2, 3, and 4 arepreferably all examined. However, some disorders do not require that allpositions be reviewed.

There are currently a variety of molecular biological methods availablethat allow examination of the DNA sequences of the red and greenphotopigment genes. For example, gene fragments may be amplified usingthe polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The red and green pigment genes canbe separately and selectively amplified as described previously (J.Neitz, M. Neitz and Grishok, Vision Research 35: 2395-2407, 1995).

Amplified gene fragments may be subjected to one or more of thefollowing procedures that provide information about the DNA sequence: 1)Direct DNA sequence of the PCR products as described previously (J.Neitz, M. Neitz and Grishok, supra, 1995); and/or 2) Restrictiondigestion analysis (described previously in J. Neitz, M. Neitz andGrishok, supra, 1995). Some of the amino acid substitutions indicatedabove are accompanied by a restriction site polymorphism. For example,the amino acid at position 180 is either a serine or an alanine. Ifalanine is encoded, the DNA fragment contains a BsoFl restriction sitethat is absent if serine is the amino acid encoded. Thus, PCR-amplifiedDNA fragments can be digested with appropriate restriction enzyme andthe digestion products will be electrophoretically separated. The sizesof the fragments may be determined. Based on the sizes of the fragmentsobserved, information about the DNA sequence and therefore about theamino acid sequence will be deduced. 3) Single strand conformationpolymorphism or other similar procedures. The amplified DNA fragment isfluorescently or radioactively end labeled, denatured into singlestrands, and the strands are separated electrophoretically. Based on themobility of the strands in the electric field, information about the DNAsequence can be deduced.

Once one has determined the amino acid specified at the above-describedcodon positions, one can then compare this amino acid data to thepreviously determined amino acid combinations suggestive of variouscolor vision deficiencies. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,461. The “eyedox”brand geneotypic test kit and sequencing services provided by GenevolveVision Diagnostics, Inc. (Albuquerque, N. Mex., USA), is anothersuitable manner of securing such information.

In some embodiments, identifying an individual having a visualinsensititivity between a first visible color wavelength and a secondvisible color wavelength includes phenotypically determining anindividual. In some embodiments, these phenotypic determinations can beachieved by exhibiting color photographs or plates and asking thesubject to indicate what he or she sees depicted in the plate. In anembodiment, the method for correcting a visual insensitivity in a mammalcomprises providing a standardized examination. In an embodiment, themethod for correcting a visual insensitivity in a mammal comprisescorrelating the score of the examination with vision disorders. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize that these include isochromic testplates and their use, e.g., Ishihara 14/24/38 plate editions (KaneharaTrading, Tokyo JP, 2009), Hardy Rand and Ritter Pseudoisocromic Platetest, 4th Ed.; Dvorine 2d Ed, American Optical Company, 1965; and/orRichmond HRR pseudo isochromic plates, (1991 ed). Another suitableexample includes the pencil and paper test described in A New MassScreening Test for Color-Vision Defiencies in Children, Neity, Maureen,et al, Color Research and Application, Supp. Vol. 26, S239-S249 (2000).Other instrumentation is available to make such vision deficienydeterminations, e.g., Farnswarth 100 Hue Test, (Richmond Products, Inc.,Albuquerque, N. Mex., USA), Heidelberg Multi-color (HMC) Anomaloscopes(Oculus, Inc., Lynwood, Wash., USA). The determination of the presenceof vision deficiencies and/or the severity of such deficiencies can beattained by the above instrumentations or methods and or combinationsthereof.

In some embodiments, the deficiencies are determined and described indifferences in spectral separation between at least two photopigments.In some embodiments, the at least two photopigments are the Lphotopigment, the M photopigment, and or combinations, hybrids orvariants of the L or M photopigments. In some embodiments, the spectralseparation is described as the differences in the spectral excitation atleast two photopigments are the L photopigment, the M photopigment, andor combinations, hybrids or variants of the L or M photopigments.

In an embodiment, the method comprises providing an optical element asdescribed herein that corrects the visual insensitivity. In someembodiments, providing an optical element further comprisesincorporating a sufficient amount of a fluorescent compound into theoptical element to increase the visual sensitivity between a firstvisible color wavelength and a second visible color wavelength.

In some embodiments, providing an optical element further comprisesincorporating a sufficient amount of a second fluorescent material intothe optical element to increase the visual sensitivity between a firstvisible color wavelength and a second visible color wavelength.

One general synthetic procedure for synthesizing luminescent dyes inaccordance with the general formula (I) is set forth below:

In the first step of Scheme 1, perylenedicarboxylic acid is convertedinto the corresponding diester by using typical esterification methods,known to those having ordinary skill in the art guided by the presentdisclosure. In the second step, perylenedicarboxylic acid di-ester isconverted into either the dibromo or diiodo derivative by using abromination/iodination reagent, under conditions known to those skilledin the art guided by the present disclosure. Some examples of thesetypes of reagents include N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and N-iodosuccinimide(NIS). The third step of Scheme 1 is to couple the correspondingperylenedicarboxylic acid di-ester iodo/bromo with a —CF₃ groupcontaining boronic acid derivative in the presence of a catalyst. Ifmore than one —CF₃ group is to be coupled to the perylene core, thenadditional bromine or iodine atoms are added during the second step,described above. Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognizethat many catalysts can be used, but typical examples include palladiumcomplex derivatives and copper derivatives.

The following is a listing of embodiments that are specificallycontemplated herein.

Embodiment 1

An optical element for improving ability to distinguish colorcomprising: a luminescent compound dispersed in a matrix material,wherein the optical element is sufficiently transparent to allow aperson to see through the optical element.

Embodiment 2

The optical element of embodiment 1, wherein the optical element isconfigured to correct a visual insensitivity between a first visiblecolor wavelength and a second visible color wavelength;

wherein the matrix material is substantially transparent; and

wherein the luminescent compound dispersed within the substantiallytransparent matrix material, wherein the luminescent compound has anemissive wavelength that substantially overlaps with the first visiblecolor wavelength.

Embodiment 3

The optical element of embodiment 2, wherein the luminescent compound ispresent in an amount that provides a transmittance that is greater than90% at the first visible wavelength.

Embodiment 4

The optical element of embodiment 2 or 3, wherein the luminescentcompound is present in the substantially transparent matrix material inan amount in the range of about 1% to about 15%, by weight, based uponthe weight of the composition.

Embodiment 5

The optical element of any of embodiments 2-4, further comprising alight absorbing dye, wherein the light absorbing dye has an absorptionband that substantially overlaps with the second visible colorwavelength.

Embodiment 6

The optical element of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein theluminescent compound comprises a perylene derivative dye.

Embodiment 7

The optical element according to embodiment 6, wherein the perylenederivative dye is represented by a formula:

-   -   wherein R¹ and R^(1′) are independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl,        C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkoxyalkyl, C₆-C₁₈ aryl, or C₆-C₂₀        arylalkyl; m is 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; and n is 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.

Embodiment 8

The optical element according to embodiment 7, wherein the perylenederivative dye is:

Embodiment 9

The optical element of any of the preceding embodiments, furthercomprising a second luminescent compound, wherein the second luminescentcompound increases the emission of the first visible color wavelength,increases the emission of the second visible color wavelength, furtherseparates the peak emissive wavelength of the first color wavelengthfrom the second color wavelength, or both increases and furtherseparates the peak emissive wavelengths.

Embodiment 10

The optical element according to embodiment 9, wherein said secondluminescent compound isN-phenyl-N-(4′-(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)naphthalen-1-amineor 4,4′-bis[N-(naphthyl)-N-phenyl-amino]biphenyl.

Embodiment 11

A composition comprising a polymer and a rhodamine or a rhodaminederivative, wherein the polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol or aderivative thereof comprising C₁₋₆ ester or C₁₋₆ acetal pendant groups.

Embodiment 12

The composition of embodiment 11, wherein the rhodamine is:

Embodiment 13

The composition of embodiment 11 or 12, wherein the polymer is acombination of repeat unit a, repeat unit b, and repeat unit c:

wherein R^(o) and R^(p) are independently H or C₁₋₅ alkyl.

Embodiment 14

The composition of embodiment 13, wherein R^(o) is CH₂CH₂CH₃.

Embodiment 15

The composition of embodiment 13 or 14, wherein R^(p) is CH₃.

Embodiment 16

The composition of any of embodiments 13-15, wherein repeat unit a isabout 80% of the weight of the polymer, repeat unit b is about 17% toabout 20% of the weight of the polymer, and repeat unit c is about 0.01%to about 3% of the weight of the polymer.

Embodiment 17

The composition of any of embodiments 11-16, wherein the rhodamine orthe rhodamine derivative is about 2% (w/w) to about 10% (w/w) of thecomposition.

Embodiment 18

The composition of embodiment 17, comprising:

-   -   rhodamine 6G in an amount of about 4% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w);        and    -   poly(vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) having an        average molecular weight in a range of about 170,0000 g/mol to        about 250,000 g/mol, and in an amount of about 90% (w/w) to        about 96% (w/w).

Embodiment 19

An optical element comprising a composition according to any ofembodiments 11-18, wherein the composition is solid.

Embodiment 20

An optical element of any of embodiments 1-10, wherein the luminescentcompound is:

Embodiment 21

The optical element of any of embodiments 1-10 and 19-20, wherein theluminescent compound absorbs light at an absorption wavelength and emitslight at an emission wavelength, wherein a human cone photopigment issubstantially more sensitive to the emission wavelength than to theabsorption wavelength; and wherein the optical element is configured sothat a person can better distinguish the colors by viewing an image oran object comprising the colors through the optical element.

Embodiment 22

The optical element of any of embodiments 1-10 and 19-21, wherein theoptical element is configured to absorb and emit visible light so thatwhen an object or an image is viewed through the optical element, afirst color having a first set of color coordinates is converted to asecond color having a second set of color coordinates to aid indistinguishing colors; and the distance between the first set of colorcoordinates and the second set of color coordinates is at least about0.02 color coordinate units.

Embodiment 23

A method for preparing an optical element comprising:

-   -   selecting a luminescent compound for use in the optical element;    -   wherein the optical element is configured to convert a color        having a first set of color coordinates to a color having a        second set of color coordinates by absorption and emission of        visible light;    -   wherein the luminescent compound is selected so that the        distance between the first set of color coordinates and the        second set of color coordinates is at least about 0.02 color        coordinate units.

Embodiment 24

The optical element of embodiment 22 or method of embodiment 23, whereinthe distance between the first set of color coordinates and the secondset of color coordinates is at least about 0.04 color coordinate units.

Embodiment 25

The optical element of embodiment 22 or method of embodiment 23, whereinthe distance between the first set of color coordinates and the secondset of color coordinates in the direction normal to a color confusionline nearest to the first set of color coordinates is at least about0.02 color coordinate units.

Embodiment 26

The optical element or method of embodiment 25, wherein the distancebetween the first set of color coordinates and the second set of colorcoordinates in the direction normal to a color confusion line nearest tothe first set of color coordinates is at least about 0.04 colorcoordinate units.

Embodiment 27

The optical element or method of embodiment 25 or 26, wherein the colorconfusion line is a deuteronopia color confusion line.

Embodiment 28

The optical element or method of embodiment 27, wherein the colorconfusion line is deuteronopia color confusion line 7.

Embodiment 29

The optical element or method of embodiment 27, wherein the colorconfusion line is deuteronopia color confusion line 8.

Embodiment 30

The optical element or method of embodiment 27, wherein the colorconfusion line is deuteronopia color confusion line 9.

Embodiment 31

The optical element or method of any of embodiments 22-30, wherein thefirst set of color coordinates is about (0.375-0.380, 0.485-0.490),about (0.475-0.480, 0.410-0.415), about (0.368-0.373, 0.485-0.490), orabout (0.370-0.375, 0.460-0.465).

Embodiment 32

The optical element or method of any of embodiments 22-30, wherein thefirst set of color coordinates is about (0.330-0.335, 0.340-0.345).

Embodiment 33

The optical element or method of any of embodiments 22-30, wherein thefirst set of color coordinates is about (0.570-0.575, 0.340-0.345),about (0.475-0.480, 0.468-0.473), or about (0.565-0.570, 0.395-0.400).

Embodiment 34

The optical element or method of any of embodiments 22-30, wherein thefirst set of color coordinates is about (0.510-0.515, 0.340-0.344), orabout (0.480-0.485, 0.388-0.392).

Embodiment 35

The optical element or method of any of embodiments 22-30, wherein thefirst set of color coordinates is about (0.290-0.295, 0.495-0.500).

Embodiment 36

A device for improving the ability to distinguish colors prepared by amethod according to any of embodiments 23-35.

Embodiment 37

The optical element of any of embodiments 1-10, 19-22, and 24-35,wherein the optical element absorbs light in a wavelength range nearpeak sensitivity for an M human cone photopigment and emits light of alonger wavelength in a wavelength range near peak sensitivity for an Lhuman cone photopigment.

Embodiment 38

The optical element of any of embodiments 1-10, 19-22, 24-35, and 37,wherein the optical element is a coating.

Embodiment 39

The optical element of embodiment 38, wherein the coating is scratchresistant.

Embodiment 40

The optical element of embodiment 38 or 39, wherein the coatingcomprises a polycarbonate, a hard acrylate, a polyurethane, or apolyurea urethane.

Embodiment 41

The optical element of any of embodiments 1-10, 19-22, 24-35, and 37-40,wherein the optical element is configured to modify a color of an objector image viewed through the optical element by a user, wherein modifyingthe color allows the user to better distinguish colors.

Embodiment 42

A device comprising:

-   -   an electronic display; and    -   the optical element of any of embodiments 1-10, 19-22, 24-35,        and 37-41;    -   wherein the device is configured so that at least a portion of        the light emitted from the display passes through the optical        element, and the optical element modifies a color of the light        emitted from the display that passes through the optical        element.

Embodiment 43

The electronic device of embodiment 1, further comprising a touch screencomponent coupled to the optical element and the electronic display;wherein the touch screen component comprises:

-   -   a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a        spacer between the first conductive layer and the second        conductive layer, wherein the first conductive layer and the        second conductive layer are substantially transparent;    -   wherein the device is configured so that contact by a user to        the touch screen can cause the first conductive layer to contact        the second conductive layer to thereby allow current to flow        between the first conductive layer and the second conductive        layer; and    -   wherein the device is configured so that at least a portion of        the light emitted from the display passes through the touch        screen component and passes through the optical element.

Embodiment 44

The device of embodiment 43, wherein the touch screen component furthercomprises a first support layer, wherein the first conductive layer isdisposed between the spacer and the first support layer.

Embodiment 45

The device of embodiment 43 or 44, wherein the touch screen componentfurther comprises a second support layer, wherein the second conductivelayer is disposed between the spacer and the second support layer.

Embodiment 46

The device of embodiment 44 or 45, wherein the touch screen componentfurther comprises a first dielectric layer, wherein the first dielectriclayer is disposed between the first conductive layer and the firstsupport layer.

Embodiment 47

The device of embodiment 45 or 46, wherein the touch screen componentfurther comprises a second dielectric layer, wherein the seconddielectric layer is disposed between the second conductive layer and thesecond support layer.

Embodiment 48

A device comprising the optical element of any of embodiments 1-10,19-22, 24-35, and 37-41, wherein the device is an ocular lens.

Embodiment 49

The device of embodiment 48, wherein the ocular lens is an intraocularlens.

Embodiment 50

The device of embodiment 48, wherein the ocular lens is a hard contactlens.

Embodiment 51

The device of embodiment 48, wherein the ocular lens is a soft contactlens.

Embodiment 52

The device of any of embodiments 48-51, wherein the optical elementcomprises a hydrogel polymer.

Embodiment 53

The device of embodiment 52, wherein the hydrogel polymer incorporates ahydrophilic acrylate monomer.

Embodiment 54

The device of embodiment 53, wherein the hydrogel polymer furtherincorporates an alkyl acrylate monomer or an alkyl methacrylate monomer.

Embodiment 55

A device comprising the optical element of any of embodiments 1-10,19-22, 24-35, and 37-41, wherein the device is an item of eyewear.

Embodiment 56

The device of embodiment 55, wherein the eyewear is eyeglasses orsunglasses.

Embodiment 57

A device comprising the optical element of any of embodiments 1-10,19-22, 24-35, and 37-41, wherein the device is a window.

Embodiment 58

A device comprising the optical element of any of embodiments 1-10,19-22, 24-35, and 37-41, wherein the luminescent compound has anabsorption band range and the optical element further comprises a lightemitting element, wherein the light emitting element is in opticalcommunication with the luminescent compound to provide an excitationsource for the luminescent compound.

Embodiment 59

The device of embodiment 58, wherein the light emitting elementcomprises a light emitting thin film having a maximum emission peakwithin the absorption band range of the luminescent compound.

Embodiment 60

The device of embodiment 58 or 59, further comprising an opticalwaveguide in optical communication with the luminescent element and thelight emitting element.

Embodiment 61

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-60, wherein the opticalelement has a transparency that is greater than or equal to 70%.

Embodiment 62

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-61, wherein the matrixmaterial comprises glass, a thiourethane, a polycarbonate (such asCR-39), a polyacrylate, one or more terpolymers ofhexafluoroacetone-tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene (HFA/TFE/E terpolymers),polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), hydrogel, organosiloxane, or acombination.

Embodiment 63

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-62, wherein the opticalelement absorbs light at a wavelength that is less than maximallydetected by a normal human cone middle-wavelength sensitive (M)photopigment and emits light at a wavelength that is detected to asubstantially greater extent by the normal human cone M photopigment.

Embodiment 64

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-63, wherein the opticalelement absorbs light at a wavelength that is less than maximallydetected by a variant human cone middle-wavelength sensitive (MV)photopigment and emits light at a wavelength that is detected to asubstantially greater extent by the same human cone MV photopigment.

Embodiment 65

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-64, wherein the opticalelement absorbs light at a wavelength that is less than maximallydetected by a normal human cone long-wavelength sensitive (L)photopigment and emits light at a wavelength that is detected to asubstantially greater extent by the normal human cone L photopigment.

Embodiment 66

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-65, wherein the opticalelement absorbs light at a wavelength that is less than maximallydetected by a variant human cone long-wavelength sensitive (LV)photopigment and emits light at a wavelength that is detected to asubstantially greater extent by the same human cone LV photopigment.

Embodiment 67

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-66, wherein the opticalelement has a peak wavelength of visible absorption of about 520 nm toabout 540 nm and a peak wavelength of visible emission of about 550 nmto about 570 nm.

Embodiment 68

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-66, wherein the opticalelement has a peak wavelength of visible absorption of about 540 nm toabout 550 nm.

Embodiment 69

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-66, wherein the opticalelement has a peak wavelength of visible absorption of about 450 nm toabout 600 nm and a peak wavelength of visible emission of about 560 toabout 720 nm.

Embodiment 70

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-66, wherein the opticalelement has a median wavelength of visible absorption of about 380 nm toabout 450 nm.

Embodiment 71

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-66, wherein the opticalelement has a median wavelength of visible absorption of about 420 nm toabout 480 nm.

Embodiment 72

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-66, wherein the opticalelement has a median wavelength of visible emission of about 500 nm toabout 600 nm.

Embodiment 73

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-66, wherein the opticalelement has an average wavelength of visible absorption of about 380 nmto about 450 nm.

Embodiment 74

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-66, wherein the opticalelement has an average wavelength of visible absorption of about 420 nmto about 480 nm.

Embodiment 75

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-66, wherein the opticalelement has an average wavelength of visible emission of about 500 nm toabout 600 nm.

Embodiment 76

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-66, wherein the opticalelement has a peak wavelength of visible absorption of about 380 nm toabout 450 nm.

Embodiment 77

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-66, wherein the opticalelement has a peak wavelength of visible absorption of about 420 nm toabout 480 nm.

Embodiment 78

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-66, wherein the opticalelement has a peak wavelength of visible emission of about 500 nm toabout 600 nm.

Embodiment 79

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-66, wherein the opticalelement has a median wavelength of visible absorption of about 510 nm toabout 550 nm.

Embodiment 80

The device of embodiment 79, wherein the optical element has a medianwavelength of visible emission of about 540 nm to about 580 nm.

Embodiment 81

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-66, wherein the opticalelement has an average wavelength of visible absorption of about 510 nmto about 550 nm.

Embodiment 82

The device of embodiment 81, wherein the optical element has an averagewavelength of visible emission of about 540 nm to about 580 nm.

Embodiment 83

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-66, wherein the opticalelement has a peak wavelength of visible absorption of about 510 nm toabout 550 nm.

Embodiment 84

The device of embodiment 83, wherein the optical element has a peakwavelength of visible emission of about 540 nm to about 580 nm.

Embodiment 85

The device of embodiment 84, wherein the optical element has a peakwavelength of visible absorption of about 530 nm to about 550 nm and apeak wavelength of visible emission of about 560 nm to about 580 nm.

Embodiment 86

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-66, wherein the opticalelement has a peak wavelength of visible absorption of about 545 nm toabout 550 nm.

Embodiment 87

The device of any of embodiments 36, 42-66, and 86, wherein the opticalelement has a peak wavelength of visible emission of about 560 nm toabout 580 nm.

Embodiment 88

The device of embodiment 87, wherein the optical element has a peakwavelength of visible emission of about 565 nm to about 575 nm.

Embodiment 89

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-88, wherein the opticalelement has a Stokes shift in the range of about 51 nm to about 120 nmwhen dispersed in the matrix material.

Embodiment 90

The device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-89 wherein the opticalelement has an absorption band with a full width half maximum value ofless than or equal to 85 nm when dispersed in the matrix material.

Embodiment 91

A method of improving ability to distinguish colors comprisingpositioning an optical element of any of embodiments 1-10, 19-22, 24-35,and 37-41 or a device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-90 so that animage or an object may be viewed by an individual through the opticalelement.

Embodiment 92

The method of embodiment 91, wherein the individual has normal colorvision.

Embodiment 93

The method of embodiment 91, wherein the individual has an impairedability to distinguish colors.

Embodiment 94

A method for correcting visual insensitivity, comprising:

-   -   providing or arranging to provide an optical element of any of        embodiments 1-10, 19-22, 24-35, and 37-41 or a device of any of        embodiments 36 and 42-90 to an individual that has been        identified as having a visual insensitivity between a first        visible color wavelength and a second visible color wavelength;    -   wherein the optical element has been selected to correct the        visual insensitivity between the first visible color wavelength        and the second visible color wavelength.

Embodiment 95

A method for correcting visual insensitivity, comprising:

-   -   selecting an optical element of any of embodiments 1-10, 19-22,        24-35, and 37-41 or a device of any of embodiments 36 and 42-90        to correct a visual insensitivity in a individual who has been        identified as having the visual insensitivity;    -   wherein the visual insensitivity comprises insensitivity in        distinguishing between a first visible color wavelength and a        second visible color wavelength; and

Embodiment 96

The method according to embodiment 95, further comprising providing orarranging to provide the optical element or device to the individual.

Embodiment 97

The method according to any of embodiments 91-96, wherein the individualhas deuteranomaly.

Embodiment 98

The method according to any of embodiments 94-97, wherein the individualhas been as having the visual insensitivity by:

-   -   examining an amino acid sequence of the individual's red or        green photopigments;    -   correlating the amino acid sequence with amino acid combinations        associated with vision disorder, wherein the amino acid sequence        is the sequence at positions selected from the group consisting        of codon positions 65, 111, 116, 153, 171, 174, 178, 180, 230,        233, 236, 274, 275, 277, 279, 285, 298, and 309 of the gene        encoding the red or green photopigment and wherein the        correlation comprises comparison of the amino acid sequence with        amino acid sequences shown to be diagnostic of vision disorders.

Embodiment 99

The method according to any of embodiments 94-98, wherein the individualhas been as having the visual insensitivity by:

-   -   providing a standardized examination; and    -   correlating the score of the examination with vision disorders.

EXAMPLES

It has been discovered that embodiments of optical elements describedherein improve the ability of colorblind individuals to distinguish afirst color from a second color having a different wavelength. Thesebenefits are further shown by the following examples, which are intendedto be illustrative of the embodiments of the disclosure, but are notintended to limit the scope or underlying principles in any way.

Example 1 Luminescent Dye

The luminescent dye, diisobutyl4,10-bis(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)perylene-3,9-dicarboxylate (Green-1),was synthesized in the following process:

a) Step-1—Synthesis of intermediate, diisobutyl4,10-dibromoperylene-3,9-dicarboxylate

To synthesize diisobutyl 4,10-dibromoperylene-3,9-dicarboxylate,N-bromosuccinimide (7.85 g, 44 mol) was added to a solution ofperylenedicarboxylic acid diisobutyl ester, which can be purchased fromAldrich Chemical Co. Perylenedicarboxylic diisobutyl ester was alsosynthesized from the corresponding di-acid derivative by esterificationwith isobutyl alcohol in DMF (50 mL) under heat at 65° C. for 3 hours(until the initial suspension changes to a clear solution). Aftercooling, methanol (500 mL) was added to the stirred reaction mixture.Soon heavy precipitate was formed, which was separated by filtration,washed with small portion of cold methanol, and dried in a vacuum ovento give diisobutyl 4,10-dibromoperylene-3,9-dicarboxylate as a yellowsolid, pure by ¹H NMR (9.6 g, 78%).

b) Step-2—Synthesis of diisobutyl4,10-bis(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)perylene-3,9-dicarboxylate (Green-1)

To synthesize diisobutyl4,10-bis(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)perylene-3,9-dicarboxylate,tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (500 mg, 0.43 mmol) was addedto a solution of diisobutyl 4,10-dibromoperylene-3,9-dicarboxylate (3.05g, 5 mmol), 4-trifluoromethylphenylboronic acid (2.09 g, 11.0 mmol) in amixture of toluene (50 mL), an aqueous solution of 2M Na₂CO₃ (20 mL),and ethanol (30 mL) under argon atmosphere. The reaction mixture washeated at 90° C. for 1 hour (until clear separation of organic layer,water, and solid was observed). The organic layer was separated andfiltered through CELITE® (Celite Corp., CA) to remove the palladiumcatalyst, then the solvent was partially removed under vacuum. Theproduct was precipitated from methanol, filtrated off, washed with coldmethanol, and dried in a vacuum oven to give pure diisobutyl4,10-bis(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)perylene-3,9-dicarboxylate (by ¹HNMR) as a yellow solid (3.30 g, 89%). Alternative purification wasperformed by column chromatography (silica gel and a mixture ofhexane-ethyl acetate 4:1 as mobile phase).

Example 2 Polymerizable Dye a)8-Hydroxymethyl-2,6-diethyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl pyrromethenefluoroborate (PMOH)

Compound PMOH (Amat-Guerri, F.; Liras, M.; Carrascoso, M. L.; Sastre,R., Photochem. Photobiol. 2003, 77, 577-584) was prepared as follows: toa stirring solution of 8-Acetoxymethyl-2,6-diethyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethylpyrromethene fluoroborate (PM605) (1.19 g, 3.17 mmol) in anhydrous CH₃OH(500 mL) was added 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (3.32 mL, 22.2mmol) dropwise via syringe. Stirring was continued at RT until TLC(SiO2, 4:1 hexanes-acetone) indicated consumption of the startingmaterial (20 min), after which the reaction was concentrated in vacuo.Purification of the crude product by flash chromatography (SiO₂, 100%dichloromethane) provided PMOH (0.70 g, 66%) as a bright red solid.

b) 8-Methacryloxymethyl-2,6-diethyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl pyrromethenefluoroborate (P1MA)

Following a procedure reported in the literature (Amat-Guerri, F.;Liras, M.; Carrascoso, M. L.; Sastre, R., Photochem. Photobiol. 2003,77, 577-584), PMOH (0.10 g, 0.30 mmol), 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (37mg, 0.30 mmol), methacryloyl chloride (31 mg, 0.30 mmol) anddichloromethane (30 mL) afforded P1MA (90 mg, 75%) as metallic green,crystalline solid after flash chromatography (SiO2, 9:1-hexanes:ethylacetate).

Example 3 Polymerizable Dye

The polymerizable BODIPY dye (P1 MA) as synthesized in Example 2. (0.014g) was added to a mixture of 0.849 g UniDic 17-806 [solids content 80%,Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Tokyo, Japan], 0.02 g photopolymerizationinitiator (IRGACURE 907, Ciba Specialty Chemicals K. K.), 0.00068 gcoating additive-gamma-methacrgamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane(PC4100, Power Chemica), 0.452 g cyclopentanone, and 0.678 g ofmethoxy-2-propanol. The mixture was sonicated for about 30 minutes untila uniform solution was obtained. The solution was then spin-coated ontoa glass slide at 2000 rpm held for about 10 seconds. The coated glassslide was then placed on a hot plate at about 100° C. for about 10minutes to evaporate the solvents. Then the coating was irradiated witha 450 W UV lamp for about 45 seconds to cure the film.

Example 4 Optical Element, UV Absorbing Dye

An optical element was prepared as follows. To a mixture of poly(vinylacetate-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl butyral) (0.1 g) in n-butanol (1.52 g)and 1-methylpyrrolidinone (0.38 g), was added rhodamine B (0.01 g) andpyrromethene 567 [Exciton Inc., Dayton, Ohio] (0.008 g). The resultingmixture was sonicated for about 45 minutes to obtain a homogeneoussolution, solution 1. To a separate vial containing a mixture ofpoly(vinyl acetate-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl butyral) (0.1 g) inn-butanol (1.52 g) and 1-methylpyrrolidinone (0.38 g), was addedpyrromethene 597 [Exciton Inc] (0.008 g) and 663-50,N-phenyl-N-(4′-(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)naphthalen-1-amine(008 g).

a)N-phenyl-N-(4′-(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)naphthalen-1-amine(663-50)

The process for synthesizingN-phenyl-N-(4′-(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)naphthalen-1-amine(663-50) was derived from Korean patent, number 1020070141920 for ChielIndustries. Compound 663-50 was synthesized in the following manner.N-phenylnaphthalen-1-amine (3.0 g, 13.68 mmol), 1-bromo-4-iodobenzene(9.68 g, 34.20 mmol), sodium tert-butoxide (3.29 g, 34.20 mmol), andPd(dppf)Cl2 (0.60 g, 0.82 mmol) were dissolved in 80 mL of anhydroustoluene. The reaction mixture was degassed with argon for 1 hour andthen heated to 80° C. under argon for 40 hours. The reaction mixture wasfiltered and the solid was washed with ethyl acetate. An extraction wasperformed in ethyl acetate and the organic layer was washed with waterand brine. The extract was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, andconcentrated. The resulting residue was purified by a silica gel columnwith 1:9 dichloromethane:hexanes as the eluent and the polarity wasincreased to 1:4 dichloromethane:hexanes. The material was thenconcentrated to yield compound 1 as a light yellow solid (57.2%).

Compound 2 was synthesized in the following manner.N1-phenylbenzene-1,2-diamine (8.56 g, 46.48 mmol) was dissolved in 230mL of anhydrous dichloromethane and the resulting mixture was stirred inan ice bath. To the mixture added 4-bromobenzoyl chloride (10.00 g,45.57 mmol) followed by slowly adding triethylamine (12.7 mL, 95.65mmol) dropwise. The reaction mixture was removed from the ice bath uponthe addition of the triethylamine. The reaction mixture was stirred atroom temperature overnight under argon. The reaction mixture wasextracted with dichloromethane and the organic layer was washed withsodium bicarbonate, water, and brine. The extract was dried overmagnesium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated. To this crude mixtureadded 201 mL of anhydrous 1,4-dioxane and the mixture was then heated to75° C. in order to dissolve material. After dissolving the solid, thereaction was allowed to cool and then phosphorus oxychloride (12.8 mL,137.35 mmol) was added dropwise via a syringe. The reaction mixture washeated to 115° C. for 2 hours under argon. The reaction was cooled toroom temperature and was quenched by adding 200 mL of sodiumbicarbonate. After quenching the reaction, the reaction mixture waspoured into 1 L of stirring cold sodium bicarbonate and allowed to stirovernight. The mixture was extracted with dichloromethane and theorganic layer was washed with sodium bicarbonate, water, and brine. Theextract was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated.The resulting residue was purified by two precipitations indichloromethane/hexanes to yield compound 3 as brown color solid (96%).

Compound 3 was synthesized in the following manner. Compound 2 (14.61 g,41.82 mmol), bis(pinacolato)diboron (11.68 g, 46.00 mmol), Pd(dppf)Cl2(1.53 g, 2.09 mmol), and (12.3 g, 125.47 mmol) were dissolved in 200 mLof anhydrous 1,4-dioxane. The reaction mixture was degassed with argonfor 1.5 hours and then heated to 80° C. under argon overnight. Thereaction mixture was filtered and an extraction was performed in ethylacetate and the organic layer was washed with sodium bicarbonate, water,and brine. The extract was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, andconcentrated. The resulting residue was purified by a silica gel columnwith 1:4 ethyl acetate:hexanes (utilizing ˜6 L of this solvent) as theeluent and then a gradient from 25% ethyl acetate to 40% ethyl acetatewas slowly increased by 5% utilizing 2 L of each new increasingpolarity. The material was then concentrated to yield compound 4 as apeach color solid (86.0%).

663-50 was synthesized in the following manner. Compound 3 (2.19 g, 5.52mmol), compound 1 (2.15 g, 5.74 mmol), Pd(PPh3)4 (0.32 g, 0.28 mmol),and potassium carbonate (2.29 g, 16.56 mmol) were dissolved in a 1:5ratio of water (10 mL) and 1,4-dioxane (50 mL). The reaction mixture wasdegassed with argon for 45 minutes and then heated to 95° C. under argonovernight. The reaction mixture was extracted with dichloromethane andthe organic layer was washed with sodium bicarbonate, water, and brine.The extract was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated.The resulting residue was purified by a silica gel column withdichloromethane as the eluent. The material was then concentrated andcrystallized from dichloromethane:hexanes to yield 663-50 (64%).

The mixture of poly(vinyl acetate-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl butyral) inn-butanol and 1-methylpyrrolidinone, pyrromethene 597 [Exciton Inc], and663-50 was then sonicated for about 45 minutes to obtain a homogeneoussolution, solution 2.

b) UV Absorbing Dye

A glass slide was spin coated at 2000 RPM for about 10 seconds withsolution 1 on one side, and then heated to about 110° C. on a hot plateto evaporate the solvents, resulting in a coated glass slide. Then, thesame glass slide was turned over and the opposite, uncoated side wasthen coated with solution 2 by spin coating at 2000 RPM for about 10seconds. After heating to about 110° C. on a hot plate, a glass slidewhich was coated on both sides with different solutions was obtained.This optical element has a transmittance spectrum shown in FIG. 14.Similar to FIG. 14, some optical elements may have a transmissiveplateau from about 630 nm to about 800 nm. Such a transmissive plateaumay have a transmittance of greater than about 90%, about 95%, or about99%.

Example 5 Optical Element, Blue Absorbing Dye

A solution of poly(vinyl acetate-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl butyral)(0.1g) and Rhodamine 6G(0.005 g) in n-butanol (1.9 g) was prepared bysonicating for about 45 minutes. The homogeneous solution wasspin-coated onto a glass slide at 2000 RPM for about 10 seconds. Thecoating was dried by placing the slide on a hot plate at about 110° C.for about 20 minutes. After the film was dried, a solution of amorphouspolycarbonate (200 mg), diisobutyl4,10-bis(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)perylene-3,9-dicarboxylate (20 mg),and toluene (1.8 g), which had been made homogeneous by sonication forabout 1-hour, was spin-coated directly on top of the previous layer ofrhodamine 6G in PVB. Then, the glass slide was placed on a hot plateagain at about 110° C. for about 30 minutes to dry the coating. Theresulting two-layered element had a transmittance spectrum shown in FIG.15. Similar to FIG. 15, some optical elements may have a transmissiveplateau from about 550 nm to about 750 nm. Such a transmissive plateaumay have a transmittance of greater than: about 90%, about 95%, or about99%.

Example 6 Optical Element (Device A)

The luminescent dye, diisobutyl4,10-bis(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)perylene-3,9-dicarboxylate, made inaccordance with Example 1, was used without addition extraction orpurification, and was intermixed with amorphous polycarbonate (APC)(Acros Organics, Geel, Belgium [Fisher Scientific USA, Pittsburgh, Pa.,USA]) in an amount resulting in a luminescent dye:amorphouspolycarbonate weight ratio of about 10:90. The mixture was thendissolved in a toluene solvent resulting in a composition that is 90%,by weight, of solvent with the use of sonication. The resulting solutionwas then spin-coated at about 2000 rpm, for about 5 seconds onto a cleanglass slide (Corning plain Micro Slides, #2947) that was pre-cut to a 5cm by 5 cm area. The resulting film was heated to about 120° C. forabout 20 to about 30 minutes under air to evaporate the solvent. Filmthicknesses can range from about 1 to about 3 micrometers when usingthese spin-coating conditions and solution compositions. The weightpercentage of the luminescent compound was about 10%, by weight, basedupon the weight of the composition.

Spectral data for the optical elements of Example 2 (Device A [withpolycarbonate]) was obtained. The normalized absorbance andphotoluminescence of Example 2 is shown in FIG. 6. The absorbance wasmeasured on a Varian Cary 50 scan UVN is Spectrophotometer (AgilentTechnologies [Varian, Inc.], Santa Clara, Calif., USA). Thephotoluminescent emission data was obtained using a Jobin Yvon HoribaFluoromax-3 fluorimeter (Horiba Jobin Yvon, Inc., Edison, N.J., USA).The excitation wavelength used to obtain this PL spectrum was 480 nm. Asshown in FIG. 6, the film comprising diisobutyl4,10-bis(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)perylene-3,9-dicarboxylate andpolycarbonate absorbed light in the blue region and emitted light in thegreen region. The absorbance ranged from about 250 nm to about 300 nmand from about 370 nm to about 520 nm. The wavelength emission rangedfrom about 460 nm to about 640 nm.

The transmittance of the material described in Example 1 was alsomeasured. The compound described in Example 1 (Green-1) was spin-coatedin a manner described in Example 2, except that no polycarbonate wasadded to the fluorescent dye Green-1. The Green-1/toluene solution wasspin-coated on a glass substrate. The total light transmittance of theresulting optical element was measured on a Photal MCPD-7000 (OtsukaElectronics, Osaka, JP) using the Photal MC-2530 UV/Vis Light Source 12lamp as the illumination source. A blank glass substrate was used as areference for 100% transmittance and is shown in FIG. 7 as “Blank.” Asshown in FIG. 7, the transmission of green light is actually greaterthan 100% in the Green-1 coated glass substrate optical element.Practically no visible light absorbance is observed from about 520 nmand higher. Some of the photons which are absorbed in the range of about430 nm to about 500 nm are re-emitted as in the visible light range ofabout 530 nm to about 600 nm, causing greater than 100% transmittance atsome wavelengths in that range. The peak transmittance is about 105.5%at about 534 nm.

Evaluation of Photoluminescent Quantum Yield (PLQY) of The EmittingDevice Mounted Luminescent Thin Film

The luminescence efficiency of the emitting thin film was evaluated bymeasuring the photoluminescence emitted from the emitting thin filmlayer under irradiation of excitation light of predetermined intensity.The measurement was performed with Otsuka Electronics (Osaka, Japan)MCPD 7000 multi channel photo detector system together with requiredoptical components such as optical fibers (Otuka Electronics), 12-inchdiameter integrating spheres (Gamma Scientific [San Diego, Calif., USA],GS0IS12-TLS), calibration light source (Gamma Scientific, GS-IS12-OP1)configured for total flux measurement, and excitation blue LED lightsource (Cree [Durham, N.C., USA] blue-LED chip, dominant wavelength 455nm, C455EZ1000-S2001).

Blue LED with peak wavelength of 452 nm was placed at the centralposition of the integrating sphere and was operated with a drive currentof 25 mA. First the radiation power from the bare blue LED chip asexcitation light was acquired. Next, a 15 mm×15 mm luminescent thin filmof Example 2 coated glass substrate was mounted on the LED chip. Thenthe radiation power of the combination of the luminescent thin film andthe blue LED was acquired.

The PLQY of the thin film can be expressed by the following formula:

${{Wavelength}\mspace{14mu} {Conversion}\mspace{14mu} {Efficiency}} = {\frac{\varphi_{c}({Emi})}{\varphi_{c}({Exc})} = \frac{\int{{P_{emi}(\lambda)} \cdot {\lambda}}}{\int{{P_{exc}(\lambda)} \cdot {\lambda}}}}$

where at any wavelength λ, P_(exc)(λ) is the radiation power of theexcitation spectrum that is incident on the thin film layer andP_(emi)(λ) is the radiation power in the combined spectrum of emissionfrom the thin film layer and the excitation light. Therefore, the dataof chromaticity can be given from MCPD data directly.

Optical Measurement

The efficiency measurement was performed with Otsuka Electronics MCPD7000 multi channel photo detector system together with required opticalcomponents such as optical fibers (Otuka Electronics), 12-inch diameterintegrating spheres (Gamma Scientific, GS0IS12-TLS), calibration lightsource (Gamma Scientific, GS-IS12-OP1) configured for total fluxmeasurement, and excitation light source (Cree blue-LED chip, dominantwavelength 455 [452] nm, C455EZ1000-S2001).

A blue LED with peak wavelength of 452 nm was then placed at the centralposition of the integrating sphere and was operated with a drive currentof 25 mA. First the radiation power from the bare blue LED chip asexcitation light was acquired. The light emitting face distance of LEDchip was 1 mm. A 15 mm×15 mm thin film covered glass substrate was thenmounted a distance of about 100 μm from LED chip. The radiation powderof the combination of the thin film and the blue LED was then acquired.A PLQY value of 0.56 was acquired.

Comparative Example 1

A pair of commercially available color enhancing glasses, Solaz (Style3), available from Solarchromic, Inc. (Colorado Springs, Colo., USA),were obtained and used as Comparative Example 1 for comparative studies.

The visible light transmittance of the glass substrate blank (“Blank”),the Green-1 coated glass substrate (“Green-1” [Green-1 spin coated onglass substrate/no polycarbonate]) are shown in FIG. 8. The visiblelight transmittance of Comparative Example 1 was also measured and theresults are also shown in FIG. 8. As seen in FIG. 8, Comparative Example1 absorbs a large amount of visible wavelength light. The transmittanceis below about 20% for most of the visible light spectrum. Since thisdevice absorbs so much light, it is not effective in low and mediumlight situations.

Results

The optical element made in Example 6 (Device A) was tested forcorrecting visual insensitivity between a first visible color wavelengthand a second visible color wavelength. The optical element, in the formof a film, was affixed to a pair of clear safety glasses. An officialIshihara color blindness test book (38 plates) (Ishihara's Tests forColour Deficiency, Shinobu Ishihara, Kanehara Trading Inc., Tokyo,Japan, [2009]) for the determination of color blindness symptoms (alsoavailable fromhttp://www.allegromedical.com/cliagnostic-products-c521/official-ishihara-color-blindness-test-p192016.html),was placed before a 26 year-old male who has been previously diagnosedwith deuteranomaly.

The visual testing was performed in an ambient lighted room. The subjectviewed the Ishihara color blindness test book (38 plates) with the nakedeye, with Example 6, and with Comparative Example 1. The subjectacknowledged that he was unable to discern several of the hidden shapeswithin the Ishihara color blindness test book (38 plates) when viewedwith the naked eye, i.e. without an optical element.

The optical element from Example 6 and the glasses from ComparativeExample 1 were alternatively inserted separately into the vision path ofthe subject. After viewing 38 test images through each separate example,the subject was asked subjectively how easily he could discern thehidden shapes in the visual test examples and was asked to trace whatportion of the hidden image he could discern. The subject reported that,with the optical element from Example 6, he was able to discern agreater portion of the hidden image or the entire image of the hiddenshape for 17 more plates with Example 6 inserted into the vision path ofthe subject as compared with Comparative 1. Furthermore, the subjectreported that the glasses from Comparative Example 1, in some cases,rendered the hidden shape completely indistinguishable from thebackground. Thus, the optical element from Example 6 provided improvedcolor discernment over both the naked eye and commercially availableglasses.

Thus, in some embodiments, an optical element may have an absorptionand/or emission profile similar to that depicted in FIG. 6. For example,an optical element may absorb light having a wavelength of about 425 nmto about 500 nm, about 440 nm to about 500 nm, about 450 nm, or about530 nm. In some embodiments, an optical element may emit light having awavelength of about 510 nm to about 585 nm, about 515 nm to about 575mm, about 530 nm, or about 560 nm. Similarly, in some embodiments andoptical element may have a transmittance spectrum to that of the FIG. 7.For example, an optical element may have a transmittance peak at awavelength of about 500 nm to about 700 nm, about 510 nm to about 550nm, about 550 nm to about 620 nm, or about 640 nm to about 720 nm. Insome embodiments the transmittance at a peak may be greater than: about90%, about 95%, or about 100%.

Example 7 Optical Element

Example 7 (Device B) was constructed in a similar manner as Example 6,except that the amount of luminescent dye, diisobutyl4,10-bis(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)perylene-3,9-dicarboxylate in thefilm was reduced to about 5% by weight of the composition. A lightabsorbing dye, Epolight 6661 (Epolin, Inc., Newark, N.J., USA), wasadded to the film in an amount resulting in 5% by weight of thecomposition.

The transmittance of Example 7 was also measured, using the same methodas described in Example 6. The results are shown in FIG. 9. As shown inFIG. 9, the optical element of Example 7 shows high transmittance in thegreen wavelength range and attenuated transmittance in the redwavelength range. This enhances color discrimination by persons havingvisual insensitivity between red and green color hues.

The visual test for the determination of color blindness symptoms as setforth above was repeated with the same individual using Example 7. Afterviewing 38 test images through each separate example, the subject wasasked subjectively how easily he could discern the hidden shapes in thevisual test examples. The subject reported that with the optical elementfrom Example 7 he was able to discern a portion of the hidden image orthe entire image of the hidden shape for 18 more plates with Example 7as compared with Comparative 1. Those 18 plate included the same 17plates perceived with Example 2, but in a majority of plates, thesubject stated he was better able (easier to discern, discerned more ofthe hidden image). Thus, both Example 6 and Example 3 enhanced colorperception in generally the same plates compared to both the naked eyeand Comparative Example 1.

Thus, in some embodiments an optical element may have a transmittancespectrum similar to that depicted in FIG. 9. For example, an opticalelement may have a transmittance peak at a wavelength of about 350 nm toabout 400 nm, about 375 nm to about 425 nm, about 500 nm to about 600nm, or about 500 nm to about 550 nm. In some embodiments, transmittanceat a peak may be greater than about 80%, about 85%, about 90%, or about92%.

Example 8 Optical Element

Additional devices were constructed in a similar manner as Example 2,except that the amount of luminescent dye, diisobutyl4,10-bis(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)perylene-3,9-dicarboxylate, in thefilms was about 9 wt % by total weight (in Device C) and about 3 wt % bytotal weight (in Device D).

Another set of devices were constructed in a similar manner as Example2. The amount of luminescent dye, diisobutyl4,10-bis(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)perylene-3,9-dicarboxylate (Green-1),in the films was about 10 wt % by total weight (in Device E), about 2.5wt % by total weight (in Device F), and about 1 wt % by total weight (inDevice G). Furthermore, a second luminescent compound,N-phenyl-N-(4′-(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)naphthalen-1-amine,was added to the optical elements of Devices E, F, and G. In Device E,Blue-1 was added in an amount of about 2.5 wt % by total weight. InDevice F, Blue-1 was added in an amount of about 10 wt % by totalweight. In Device G, Blue-1 was added in an amount of about 10 wt % bytotal weight.

The transmittance of the devices in Example 4 were also measured, usingthe same method as described in Example 2. The results are shown inTable 9.

TABLE 4 Transmittance of Devices C-G Green-1 Blue-1 Peak transmissiveMCPD emissive Device amount amount wavelength intensity C 9 wt %  0 wt %534 nm 105.45% D 3 wt %  0 wt % 536 nm 100.83% E 10 wt %  2.5 wt %  557nm 102.05% F 2.5 wt %   10 wt % 545 nm 102.46% G 1 wt % 10 wt % 536 nm101.74%

As shown in Table 9, the optical elements of Example 4 show a hightransmittance in the green visible light wavelength without a concurrentdecrease in the measured intensity of the emitted light. This allows fortuning of the peak transmissive wavelength, and enhances colordiscrimination by persons having visual insensitivity between red andgreen color hues.

Thus, in some embodiments, an optical element may have a peaktransmissive wavelength around that of any of devices C-G in Table 4.For example, an optical element may have a peak transmissive wavelengthof about 530 nm to about 540 nm, about 535 nm to about 540 nm, about 540nm to about 550 nm, about 545 nm to about 550 nm, or about 555 nm toabout 560 nm. In some embodiments, a peak may have a transmittance of atleast: about 100%, about 102%, or about 105%.

Example 9

PVBAA (160 mg) was dissolved in 3.04 g of anhydrous reagent alcohol bysonicating for 2 hours. Then, 8 mg of Rhodamine 6G was added to thesolution and sonication was applied for 10 minutes. Note that the finalcomposition of this solution was approximately 4.75 wt % polymer, 0.25wt % rhodamine 6G, and 95% solvent. Then the solution was spin coatedonto a cleaned glass slide which was cut to 5 cm×5 cm. After spincoating, the film was dried on a hot plate set to 100° C. for 10minutes. Note that after evaporating the solvent, the final compositionof the dry film is 5 wt % rhodamine 6G in 95 wt % polymer.

PVBAA (160 mg, Sigma-Aldrich, Milwaukee, Wis., USA #418420), wasdissolved in 3.04 g of anhydrous n-butanol by sonicating for about 2hours. Then, 8 mg of Rhodamine 6G (Sigma-Aldrich) was added to thesolution and sonication was applied for about 10 minutes with aresultant solution of approximately 4.75 wt % polymer, 0.25 wt %rhodamine 6G, and 95% solvent. The resulting solution was spin coated(at about 2000 rpm for about 10 seconds after ramp up from 0-2000 rpm ofabout 0.1 seconds) onto a cleaned glass slide which had been cut toabout 5 cm×5 cm. After spin coating, the film was dried on a hot plate,in air, at about 10° C. for about 10 minutes resulting in a dried filmof about 5 wt % rhodamine 6G in 95 wt % polymer. The film had thetransmittance spectrum depicted in FIG. 10, and the absorption andemission spectra depicted in FIG. 11.

Thus, in some embodiments, an optical element may have a transmittanceprofile similar to that depicted in FIG. 10, and/or an absorption and/oremission spectrum similar to that depicted in FIG. 11. For example,similar to FIG. 10, some optical elements may have a transmissiveplateau in the range of about 600 nm to about 700 m. In that range, thetransmittance may be greater than about 90%, about 95%, or about 99%.Similar to FIG. 11, in some embodiments an optical element may absorblight having a wavelength of about 500 nm to about 560 nm, about 520 nmto about 550 nm, or about 523 nm. In some embodiments, an opticalelement may emit light at a wavelength of about 550 nm to about 615 nm,about 560 nm to about 610, or about 568 nm

An optical element was prepared as described in Example 2 using therhodamine 6G film. The optical element, in the form of a film, wasaffixed to a pair of clear safety glasses. The visual test for thedetermination of color blindness symptoms as set forth above wasrepeated with the same individual using Example 3. The individual wasable to discern all of the hidden image or shape for all 38 plates.

Example 10 Optical Element (Device I)

The luminescent dye, Rhodamine 6G, was used without addition extractionor purification, and was intermixed with a coating solution comprising asilica-filled methylpolysiloxane polymer [PermaNew 6000, 28% solids](California Hardcoating Co., Chula Vista, Calif., USA) in an amountresulting in a luminescent dye: total solution weight ratio of about0.25:99.75. The resulting solution was then spin-coated at about 2000rpm, for about 10 seconds onto a clean pre-cut plastic lens made ofallyl diglycol carbonate (CR-39 plastic, SP Optical Labs, Vista,Calif.). The resulting coated lens was then heated to about 120° C. forabout four (4) hours under air to cure the coating material. The weightpercentage of the luminescent compound in the cured coating was about 1wt % based upon the weight of the composition.

Additional devices were constructed in a similar manner as Device I,except that the amount of luminescent dye, Rhodamine 6G was about 0.5 wt% by total weight (in Device J), about 0.75 wt % by total weight (inDevice K), and about 1.0 wt % by total weight (in Device L).

Example 11

Pyrromethene 605 (PM605) [Exciton, Inc] (0.082 g), UNIDIC 17-806[ionizing radiation curable paint (UniDic 17-806, solids content 80%,Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, (10 g); photopolymerization initiator(IRGACURE 907, Ciba Specialty Chemicals K. K.) (0.24 g), coatingadditive-gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (PC4100, PowerChemica) (0.008 g) were dissolved in cyclopentanone (5.32 g) and1-methoxy-2-propanol (7.98 g) by sonicating for about 2 hours

The resulting solution was hand cast onto a PET substrate. Aftercasting, the film was dried in an air circulating oven, in air, at about90° C. for about 60 seconds to evaporate the solvents. The film was thenirradiated with a 500 W Xe/HgXe lamp until a dose of at least 250J/cm²of UV radiation was applied to the film, resulting in a cured film ofabout 1 wt % pyrromethene 605 in 99 wt % polymer. The film had thetransmittance spectrum depicted in FIG. 12, and the absorption andemission spectra depicted in FIG. 13.

Thus, in some embodiments, an optical element may have a transmittanceprofile similar to that depicted in FIG. 12, and/or an absorption and/oremission spectrum similar to that depicted in FIG. 13. For example,similar to FIG. 12, some optical elements may have a transmissiveplateau in the range of about 600 nm to about 800 nm. In that range, thetransmittance may be greater than about 80% or about 90%. Similar toFIG. 13, in some optical elements may absorb light at a wavelength ofabout 500 nm to about 560 nm, about 540 nm to about 550 nm, or about 550nm. In some embodiments an optical element may emit light at awavelength of about 550 nm to about 650 nm, about 560 nm to about 600nm, or about 570 nm.

An optical element was prepared as described in Example 6 using therhodamine 6G film. The optical element, in the form of a film, wasaffixed to a pair of clear safety glasses (Device M). The visual testfor the determination of color blindness symptoms as set forth above wasrepeated with the same individual using Example 7. The individual wasable to discern all of the hidden image or shape for all 38 plates.

Similar to FIG. 14, some optical elements may have a transmissiveplateau from about 630 nm to about 800 nm. Such a transmissive plateaumay have a transmittance of greater than about 90%, about 95%, or about99%.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities ofingredients, properties such as molecular weight, reaction conditions,and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understoodas being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly,unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth inthe specification and attached claims are approximations that may varydepending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained. At the veryleast, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine ofequivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter shouldat least be construed in light of the number of reported significantdigits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

The terms “a,” “an,” “the” and similar referents used in the context ofdescribing the invention (especially in the context of the followingclaims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural,unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context.All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable orderunless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted bycontext. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g.,“such as”) provided herein is intended merely to better illuminate theinvention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of any claim. Nolanguage in the specification should be construed as indicating anynon-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments disclosed herein arenot to be construed as limitations. Each group member may be referred toand claimed individually or in any combination with other members of thegroup or other elements found herein. It is anticipated that one or moremembers of a group may be included in, or deleted from, a group forreasons of convenience. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, thespecification is deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfillingthe written description of all Markush groups used in the appendedclaims.

Certain embodiments are described herein, including the best mode knownto the inventors for carrying out the invention. Of course, variationson these described embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventorexpects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, andthe inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise thanspecifically described herein. Accordingly, the claims include allmodifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in theclaims as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of theabove-described elements in all possible variations thereof iscontemplated unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearlycontradicted by context.

In closing, it is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed hereinare illustrative of the principles of the claims. Other modificationsthat may be employed are within the scope of the claims. Thus, by way ofexample, but not of limitation, alternative embodiments may be utilizedin accordance with the teachings herein. Accordingly, the claims are notlimited to embodiments precisely as shown and described.

1. A device for improving color discernment comprising: an opticalelement comprising a luminescent compound in a substantially transparentmatrix; wherein the optical element has a peak wavelength of visibleabsorption of about 540 nm to about 550 nm.
 2. The device of claim 1,wherein the optical element has a peak wavelength of visible absorptionof about 545 nm to about 550 nm.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein theoptical element has a peak wavelength of visible emission of about 560nm to about 580 nm.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the optical elementhas a peak wavelength of visible emission of about 565 nm to about 575nm.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the luminescent compound is:


6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is an ocular lens.
 7. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the device is an item of eyewear.
 8. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the device is an electronic device.
 9. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises a scratchresistant coating comprising the luminescent compound and thesubstantially transparent matrix.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein thedevice comprises a touch screen.
 11. A method of improving ability todistinguish colors comprising positioning a device of claim 1 so that animage or an object may be viewed by an individual through the opticalelement.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the individual has normalcolor vision.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the individual has animpaired ability to distinguish colors.
 14. A device for improvingability to distinguish colors comprising: an optical element comprisinga luminescent compound dispersed in a matrix material; the opticalelement is configured to absorb and emit visible light so that when anobject or an image is viewed through the optical element, a first colorhaving a first set of color coordinates is converted to a second colorhaving a second set of color coordinates to aid in distinguishingcolors; and the distance between the first set of color coordinates andthe second set of color coordinates is at least about 0.02 colorcoordinate units.
 15. The device of claim 15, wherein the distancebetween the first set of color coordinates and the second set of colorcoordinates in the direction normal to a color confusion line nearest tothe first set of color coordinates is at least about 0.02 colorcoordinate units.
 16. The device of claim 16, wherein the colorconfusion line is a deuteronopia color confusion line.
 17. The device ofclaim 17, wherein the color confusion line is deuteronopia colorconfusion line
 7. 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the colorconfusion line is deuteronopia color confusion line
 8. 19. The device ofclaim 17, wherein the color confusion line is deuteronopia colorconfusion line
 9. 20. A method of improving ability to distinguishcolors comprising positioning a device of claim 14 so that an image oran object may be viewed by an individual through the optical element.21. The method of claim 20, wherein the individual has normal colorvision.
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein the individual has animpaired ability to distinguish colors.